Creative Chaos with Anna J. Boll

Live Journal

2006-09-27T14:27:00.000-04:00

I have started a second blog over at live journal. I can already tell that I will not be able to keep up with both so I will be posting over there for the near future. Please come check it out. Creative Chaos II

There are things I can tell that I will miss. The easy tool bar for links and photos, the clear templates, and no ads. However, the Live Journal system supports numerous writer friends and really feels more like a community. (This also makes it take more time as I have a lot more comments over there.) We'll see. If the whole "friending" business could cross blogs, and I would stop being "anonymous," I'd probably stay put. Come visit me at live journal!

Fabulous Weekend

2006-09-25T11:43:00.000-04:00

I just got back from a fabulous weekend with my writing buddies. Our "Fall Schmooze" was a recipe for success. Take 9 seasoned writers, 1 spicy editor from Walter Lorraine Books at Houghton, Add too much modesty, Stir over two days adding your choice beverage from time to time, Simmer with laughter and honest critique. Tastes delicious.

The weekend, as always, gave me a kick in the pants. I am going to complete my dummy by October 21st with the Fall Folio Feast in mind. I also hope to have some images with my poetry. My goal is to show how my words and images work together. Must get to work!

Poster contest sob story

2006-09-15T11:05:00.000-04:00

Okay. So if any of you have elementary aged children you know that it has been a busy week. Getting kids to bed on time, up on time, to the bus on time. We were busy getting used to school, the bus, and a host of extracurricular activities that all started this week. If I had a piece of chocolate for every time I told a kid to put on their shoes, I'd be fat. So it is no wonder that 1) My husband has been away for two weeks and I've been doing this all on my own. 2) The deadline for the National Cherry Blossom Festival poster contest is tomorrow.

I entered the contest last year and didn't win, but was able to see all the entries in an exhibit this past March. I was also able to talk to the judges and get a little insight into the process. I knew I wanted to enter it again, and have been sketching and gathering references and supplies. I created a block print using high density sign foam and a dremmel tool. This made the carving very easy although a little messy. I probably should have worn a mask as the dust goes everywhere. I carved at the beginning of the week, inked in the middle and finally did the coloring yesterday.

I ran to the UPS store and had them ship it overnight to make the 5pm, September 15th deadline, which cost me....Drum roll please......
$100 smackeroos!

I paid. Crazy, maybe, especially because we are in the midst of some serious money issues, but what else could I do. I wasn't going to let all that work go to waste. Anyway, it is a business expense that will show up on the 2006 taxes. The thing that gets me is that it is a digital file that I easily could have emailed them but that was against the guidelines.

Wish me luck.

September 11th: Five years later

2006-09-11T07:20:00.000-04:00

I'm not feeling very stable anyway but September 11th is hitting me like a ton of bricks. I told myself I wouldn't watch tv today and I won't but there has still been plenty of coverage in the days leading up to today. The front of the Portland Press Herald has a huge picture of the lights that memorialize the twin towers. I read the whole front page and the list of those from Maine who died five years ago. It's not a huge list but its enough. Enough to make me shiver, to make my stomach turn to lead. To make my brain foggy, a lump build in my throat, my eyes sting. Enough to make me so sad that I snap at my children because I can not, will not share with them what they are too young to hear. That there are hateful people who wish us dead. That there are people so mean that they are killers.

I am pissed that I do not feel safer, after the Patriot laws or TSA or seeing our troops die for our freedoms. Pissed that our government is barking up the wrong terrorists, and ineffectively at that. Pissed that I have had to become easy-going about a certain amount of risk in daily life that did not exist five years ago.

That's it for now. I might need to write more later.

Studio Streamlining

2006-09-07T21:27:00.000-04:00

With the kids back to school, I have been amazingly organized and on-task in my studio. I started out Tuesday developing a typed "to do" list that has all my magazine articles, poems, picture books, non-fiction, agents to query and novels. (I have quite a bit.) I jotted down two or three places each piece needed to go, and interesting quotes from specific editors/agents. This was relatively easy after a summer of reading Children's Writer, SCBWI market notes, and the new CWIMarket. (Yay again! to Cindy Lord for her article in the Market Guide.) The list has made my days more streamlined. I wave good-bye to my lovely, genius children and run home to my studio. I have a good two hours straight now on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. (Some of you may be laughing at how little time I have to work, but this is like heaven compared to the writing-in-the-cracks-of-life method I've been using.) Anyway, Tuesday I sent out a picture book manuscript. Today I sent out a poem with a sketch to Spider and a picture book manuscript to Kar-Ben. Perhaps by the time I get through the list I will be receiving the rejections that require me to start from the beginning again. That's okay. The next envelopes are ready to go!

Anything can spark an idea

2006-08-25T21:21:00.000-04:00

It's amazing what will give you an idea for writing and illustrating. I just thought I'd share two from today. This morning, as I took my shower, I spied a spider or two on the ceiling above the tub and created a humorous poem about them sliding down the water spout into the hair of the person showering. Later, I was waiting for my kiddo when he was in a school bathroom and saw this. I thought it was pretty precious. Doesn't everyone take off their red rubber boots when they go to the potty?

Sick, ick.

2006-08-22T15:49:00.000-04:00

After a beautiful morning with the kids, (walking up Bradbury mountain and having a picnic under the pine trees) my cold is catching up with me. I feel, you'll excuse me, that my nose and ears are cemented shut. Ugh. Not good for working. Maybe I'll write about someone who feels sick.

Rainy sunday dreaming

2006-08-20T09:09:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Jo Knowles for giving me this fabulous link to Jarrett J. Krosoczka's blog. If you are involved with children's books, you will want to watch his short video about the ups and downs of trying to publish. It is laugh out loud funny and amazingly well directed and produced. My favorite part is when they keep him waiting and waiting but want his work in a single month. (Definetly go to his website too if you have the time. ) I guess the premiere of the movie was at the LA SCBWI annual conference. I would love to go there sometime, but alas, I am an east coast girl without the means for a west coast ticket. Maybe someday I'll do a workshop there and get to go. After I have a book published that is. Oh hum. Back to work.

Picture book web preview

2006-08-17T06:52:00.000-04:00

A fellow critiquer in my on-line picture book group gave me the link to Dottie Enderle's site. Take a look at the book "preview" at the lower left of her page. What a great idea and relatively easy. I'll bet you could do this in imovie by creating a series of stills with fade ins and outs. I just don't know how it would be coded into your website.

Last night, I met with my in-person critique group. We have been in flux for the summer and since the wonderful success of our friend and fellow critiquer Cynthia Lord. Anyway, we worked on getting together a notice for new members, reestablished the structure of our meetings, and scheduled meetings through the rest of the year. I feel that we are all looking to be productive and publish. Perhaps this new energy will be visible in my manuscripts and editors will notice.

Davey and Janet scratch the Seven Year Itch

2006-08-14T07:29:00.000-04:00

What a weekend! My family went to Western New York to celebrate our good friends David and Janet. They have been living together happily for seven years and brought friends and family together as Davey's parents are moving from the area and selling their long time home as well. We traveled with my in-laws, five children, my sister-in-law, and her opere in two minivans. (Oh my!) The party was wonderful with crafts, a moon bounce, and extra sitters for the kids, beautiful weather, paraplane rides for whoever wanted them (Davey went to flight school at one point) and a Hawaiian theme. Before they opened the buffet, they called everyone into the tent. Davey asked us all to leave an aisle and he brought an old family friend up from the audience who was a lay preacher. Neither Davey or Janet's parents knew that their children were planning a secret wedding but they were all thrilled. When Janet came out of the house in a white halter dress with a beautiful ankle length hankerchief hem there wasn't a dry eye in the tent. The preachers friend, a local judge, came up and sealed the deal after the bride and groom exchanged spontaneous wonderful vows. I'm getting all choked up just writing about it again. The rest of the night was dance-filled and fun. Congratulations Davey and Janet!

Babybug makes offer on poem

2006-08-08T20:42:00.000-04:00

So good news. Babybug has accepted a poem from me. I send them back a yes on their offer, some tearsheets, postcards and a polished sketch for an illustration. I'm hoping this may be my in on the illustration front. Cross your fingers for me. So if anyone was keeping track, that makes four poems to Highlights for Children and two to Babybug. Now if I could just sell a book manuscript...

Summer Blogging

2006-08-01T07:45:00.000-04:00

I see that other bloggers are busy this summer too. Some resorting to "reruns" of past blogs. I will give you a quick update on all things Boll.

Small child is taking tap with a "ballet warm-up." According to him, this is not real ballet like his other ballet teacher. He is eager to get back to sweet, patient Miss Elizabeth who is so talented and graceful it makes me want to wiggle into a pink leotard just to take her classes. He is also excited to go get his big boy backpack from LL Bean. His brother got to do the same before he went to Kindergarten.

Large child is finishing up a whole summer of baseball. He is itching for friends and, I think, the start of school. He said to me this morning, "Mom, can you believe I'm going into the second grade?" Hardly, darling, hardly.

Husband is starting up at the Navy tomorrow. He is usually on reserves but is going back on active duty for a six month period. The regular paycheck and health benefits will be great to have. Perhaps it will relieve some stress.

I am trying to relax and enjoy the summer with my children, work more hours at the gym for money (which would usually go to fund my author/illustrator work but is now going to the family), find bits of time to write and draw, and trying not fall asleep at 9 each night.

My list of wishes:
I wish the arts were compensated at a higher level.
I wish child care were free to parents ala Sweden.
I wish my manuscripts would be accepted already. I've had enough of pleasant rejections that tell me how adorable and exciting my ideas are.
I wish health care was free.
I wish editors could get back to writers in a more reasonable time frame.

There's more I'm sure, but that is all for now.

Children's Illustration Class

2006-07-23T17:50:00.000-04:00

Last week there was no time for blogging as I was commuting to the Maine College of Art for my Children's Illustration class with Judy LaBrasca. I was hard at work from 9-5 all week. Tuesday was the most difficult as it was about 120 degrees on the fourth floor of the Porteous building. My fellow students were very kind and talented people with varying knowledge about the publishing industry. Judy honored my knowledge and let me speak about SCBWI and Maine Illustrators' Collective.

During the week, I was able to take my ROAR manuscript to the next level. I started the week with a manuscript just under 500 words. I think I cut at least 200 of those words as my vision for the illustrations became more concrete. I found that many of my words were redundant and I ended up getting rid of them. I analyzed other picture books by creating story boards for existing books and learned a lot about pacing. I also focussed on character development using clay to sculpt my main character. (A technique borrowed from David Weisner, Tuesday.) I found that after this process, I was intimately aware of the curves and lines that made up the character. I also completed two finishes for spreads. I am working on the book dummy I will submit to publishers.

Now that I am home, I hope to do one spread sketch a week for the dummy. I am eager to start the submissions process as this book has been a work in progress for about four years now. I am efficient when I have a long period of time to work (and no internet or children to interrupt me.)

School will be starting before we know it. I have the Staples commercial playing in my head, "It's the most wonderful time of the year..."

Ideas

2006-07-18T05:13:00.000-04:00

Here is a bit from my comments for the children's illustration class I'm taking this week at the Maine College of Art with Judy LaBrasca:

I keep an idea file with bits of paper with unfinished poems or possible titles. Often these ideas come to me in the car (during carpool) and are scrawled on the backs of receipts. More often, I try to keep the ideas more organized in a sketch book that I keep beside me in the car and in my purse. Another sits beside my bed. My sketch books are full of writing as well as sketches. I have been carrying a sketch book pretty religiously since 2002.

Actually, it was a journal with lines in 2002. At that point I saw myself as a writer who liked to draw. In 2003, I got rid of the lines. In 2004, I took Leticia Plate’s Business of Illustration course throught the continuing studies program. In 2005, I had a web site, a portfolio, and sent out two rounds of postcards. I got two small jobs last year. I was an illlustrator. This year, I had a lack luster portfolio review at the New England SCBWI conference. This, in addition to the fact that I have not been able to make any money through my illustration or writing this year has caused a lack of confidence in my skills. I have been questioning if I am really an author/illustrator or if I am indeed, a writer who likes to draw. I am taking the class, in large part for the support and constructive criticism of an instructor and fellow artists.

Actually, I am jealous of other artists sketch books. Too me, other artists have drawings that look so finished and accomplished. They seem to sketch all the time. I love to see the sketch books with a collage of ideas, crowding the pages, new characters peeking out from behind each other. I love the drawings that are born out of the artist’s mind’s eye. Fantastical and free, tripping from page to page. My scrawling is big with a single drawing filling a page. I find it difficult to draw anything well if I am not looking at reference of some type. Instead, my sketch book is filled with quick gesture drawings, unfinished observational drawings, composition ideas and words.

Posing for figure drawing class

2006-07-13T10:45:00.000-04:00

I am a confident person. I am a performer at heart. I am comfortable in my own skin. So being naked in front of a room full of artist is not difficult. The challenging part of modeling for a figure drawing class is coming up with interesting poses one can hold. The one minute poses are fine. I rock at one minute poses.

My one minute poses invoke dance and yoga, real life experiences, interesting twists and turns of ribcage and pelvis, arms outstretched or entwined, eyes searching the sky or the past. Five minute poses still have some of these qualities but when we get to the fifteen minute poses, I am "nude in recline." I sit. I kneel. I lean. I lay. Every once in a while I will stand but I have to make sure my hips are in line, my neck is just so, my arms are not throwing me off balance, and that nothing is pressing into any part of my body. One table or stool edge pressing on a thigh isn't much for five minutes. Add in another ten, however, and it feels as if the edge has permanently pinched all nerves, veins and arteries in that locale. Did you know that a whole leg could fall asleep?

The thiry minute poses do me in. Change "nude in recline" to "sleeping nude." At this point it is 8:30 at night. I've been awake since 5 am. First, I went to the gym and took a yoga class. Next, I chaffeured my children around from baseball, to camp, to swim lessons. We had two scraped knees along the route and at least five arguments which sent my small son into a fit of whining that made me want to rip my hair out. (Or maybe his.) After all this driving and refereeing, I plopped my children infront of the TV while I whipped up home-made pizza. I digress. As I pose nude at 8:30 pm, head on pillow, legs on a box slightly askew, one hand on belly the other above my head, I fall asleep. Not a deep sleep mind you. A cat nap sort of sleep. Twenty minutes into the pose I am wide awake again but I cannot feel my biceps in the raised arm. "I'm sorry," I say, "I have to put my arm down." It takes a good five minutes trying to get the blood back into that part of my arm. In the mean time an artist says, "Your arm keeps moving." That's a good thing as far as I'm concerned, because I thought I had lost all movement in that arm. "I'm sorry," I say and keep still.

Another thing about posing is the time you have just being. It is a slightly meditative state where knots in the wooden floor can be figured into dogs, or old ladies with floppy hats. The cupboard pulls in this studio, for instance, look as if they are cartoon eyes staring right back at you. You can count the drips off the skylight as it rains or listen to the Veery birds at dusk. All this in your best suit without any children about.

Agent wanted

2006-07-07T19:38:00.000-04:00

My brain has been on overload for a while now. I am filled with bits and pieces. I agreed to edit our synagogue newsletter, I am trying to learn my choreography for the aerobics class that I teach (I need to know it by Monday), I applied for a great job that I didn't even get an interview for (or so it seems), I got an interview and an offer for an okay job that I didn't even apply for (can't decide if I should say yes or no), and I got an inquiry about a job that could be very interesting, I would need to develop it but it is somewhat iffy. All this job talk is because I can't seem to sell my writing right now. One does not make money from rejections. Maybe once I get in the summer groove I'll be able to get more stuff out and off of my desk. Right now, I'd really like an agent but that seems to be just as hard to find as a publisher.

Don't smile at me Mommy

2006-07-05T13:23:00.000-04:00

My small child is learning to inline skate. He puts on his skates and starts to chug around the basketball court feet furiously moving back and forth. I'm a little surprised that he gets anywhere this way but there is definetly forward motion. "March a little, kiddo" I call out. "It is more of a step than back and forth." He is ignoring me. Finally he finds the new rhythm. March, march, march, roll. March, march, march, roll. "That's it!" I say. I watch him smiling. He mumbles, "No smilin'." I'm not sure I heard him properly. I grin as he rolls again. "Don't smile at me, Mommy," he says in a frustrated tone. I thought these teenage moments would wait until nine or ten. It seems we have them early.

A great birthday for a five year old

2006-07-04T16:07:00.000-04:00

My small son turned five yesterday and, I must say, had a great birthday. He spent the weekend swimming with his cousins in his grandparent's pool. A carnival was in town and it was ride all you want for one price. He rode the small train, the big trucks, motorcycles that did wheelies and jumped, and airplanes that soared in circles. Cake and presents topped off that night. On his real birthday, he received roller skates and went skating. His grandparents arrived again, this time in a red convertible. They took him for a ride that he loved so much, sweet boy, he fell asleep. In the evening we had a barbecue and finished the night with a bonfire. The kids roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. They hunted for lightening bugs with the neighbors and ended the day with a story by the fire. It's good to be five.

Tuesday I was a bad mother

2006-06-29T08:11:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, I left my child at baseball. No excuse, just plum forgot where he was and that he needed me. I suppose it has to do with the fact that his Dad dropped him off, he left around the same time he would for school, it rained on Monday and baseball was canceled. But the fact is that I just wasn't ready for the new schedule and I had a bad mother moment. Don't worry. When I figured it out (20 minutes after I was suppose to be there) it hit me like a ton of bricks, or a train, or any other large object that makes your heart drop to your knees and suck in air like you have to fill an entire hot air balloon. I hustled my smaller son out of the house (I had forgotten about his day camp as well) and raced (as fast I could given all of Brunswick is under construction) to the ball field. The good news is that he was never in any harm. The older kids came to the ball field for their session along with many Moms we know from school. He played happily on the playground until I showed up 45 minutes late.
Wednesday was much better and perhaps today I'll even figure out how to revise my picture book in between pick-ups and drop offs. Mama taxi ready to roll.

I'm Back

2006-06-21T07:34:00.000-04:00

My last post was twelve days ago and I'm truly thrilled to be back and posting again. When our parents warned us about being starving artists they didn't know about the stress of debt. Yes, we eat fine in the Boll house but right around the 15th of each month we start wondering about how we will make it to the 30th. I've been applying to restaurants, LL Bean and a job for the fall. So far, nothing has come through. If something did come through for the summer my time table is so odd with caring for my kids I don't know how anyone would schedule me.

So, I turned in my application packet for a part-time adjunct lecturers position at Bowdoin yesterday. If I got the job, I'd be teaching Environmental Education, supervising 10 Bowdoin students in elementary school placements. It is a dream job for me and I thought about staying quiet about it. But, like a pregnancy, if things don't work out, you want to have the support of those who care. So, I'm hoping to get an interview at least. We'll see.

While I've been working at get work, the work I love, my writing and illustrating, has been shoved aside like some in-the-way child who is sulking in the corner asking to be played with. Print, draw, write, create, it says. I do have my sister coming in mid-July and I've been saving my pennies for an intensive illustration course at the Maine College of Art. I'm really looking forward to it! Hoping to end up with a dummy for Roar! that I can send off immediately.

I got a nice rejection from Kirchoff/Wohlberg. My picture books are age appropriate but picture books are a hard sell these days. (I know, I know!) Really they are looking for middle grade or young adult novels. Won't that market get flooded too? Geez. Happy first day of summer!

Emails you don't send...

2006-06-06T20:15:00.000-04:00

Here is another funny video link. Not about rejection but email communication ettiquette, if you will. I wonder when these people have time to create these great videos? Thanks to fabulous friend and illustrator Leticia Plate for sending me the link. Take a look at her "Snail Mail Productions" link to neat stuff she's created for sale. Very crafty!

Rejection Video

2006-06-01T21:23:00.000-04:00

I'd like to say I found this video myself, but alas, I've been holding a small boy's head over the toilet since last night and haven't the time to wander the web. Enjoy! Thanks to Jo Knowles!

Illustration Friday: Cake

2006-05-29T23:40:00.000-04:00

Beach cake takes a lot of concentration.

The All-American Day

2006-05-29T19:55:00.000-04:00

My gosh! What a gorgeous day we had today. Beautiful blue sky, hot, sunny day. We went to the Memorial Day parade. Great people watching for characters. I got some color at the Seadogs baseball game. The Seadogs got two home runs (the model lighthouse rises from just over the wall with a great "ahoogah" foghorn noise) and they won. We sang YMCA and Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Finally, we had lobster rolls at our favorite lobster pound. Truly a fabulous beginning to the summer and a great setting for a book.

New Moon

2006-05-27T06:52:00.000-04:00

Every once in a while it seems that the whole world is in a downslump. Okay not the whole world, but the people I come in contact with on a daily basis. My world, maybe? A lot of folks I've run into recently have that same glazed, over-exhausted, stressed look on their faces. Phases. What phase is the moon in right now? No moon at all tonight. So perhaps as the moon grows over the next days and weeks the world will seem a little brighter, lighter, happier. Or at least my world will.

Just a bad month

2006-05-25T21:22:00.000-04:00

Things have been rought here in the Boll household. My hubby has been working crazy hours which means I've been with the kids constantly. In the entire month of May, I got mother's day off, and a few hours for bookclub last Sunday. I feel like a zombie, I'm tired and snippy. So in addition to yelling at my poor children yesterday, I yelled at myself too. "Why do you think you can illustrate, you don't know thing-one about what you are doing, you should just give up and go back to a regular job where you can make some money. Forget all this stuff about dreams and passions."

When I cooled down, I went to Applebees to pick up an application to be a "server." I figure I'm a damn good server here at home, not to mention an awesome multi-tasker. How many people do you know who can write a picture book, do the laundry, research a query,help find homework, create an illustration promo postcard, make a lunch, check email, band-aid a boo-boo, and write a blog entry at one time. Applebees here I come. At least I'll make some money. Also, I figure I'm allowed to have bad months without yelling at myself.

Illustration Friday:Sorry

2006-05-23T12:18:00.000-04:00

Sorry at the square dance. I'm sorry it is just a sketch. Much work to do.

New Images

2006-05-23T09:55:00.000-04:00

I'm pleased to say that my web site portfolio page has three new images. Please click and look. Anna's Portfolio

Tales From the Slush Pile

2006-05-20T13:17:00.000-04:00

If you are an author or illustrator of children's books you have to view Tales From the Slush Pile it is just so laugh-out-loud-funny you have to check it out. I love this comic!

Hide and seek

2006-05-19T13:00:00.000-04:00

My son is home sick (but not too sick) and we found that rainy sick days are just perfect for inside hide and seek. I love how excited he gets when he finds me and how truly happy I am when I'm looking for him. "Hmmm. Is he behind the counter, in the tipi, under the coffee table, Ah, Is he under the bed? Found you!" We both have big happy smiles. Happy Friday, hope for sun.

BLAH!

2006-05-18T08:51:00.000-04:00

We had a little sunshine yesterday but it was a tease. I woke up today to showers again. Alright you say, enough about the weather. I feel exactly the same. The thing is, that it impacts my day to day, my work, my relationships, my outlook on the world.(Which, at this moment, is pretty dismal.) I have seven different things (queries, poems, stories, books) out at publishers and magazines and I'm constantly working on more. Not always new, just more. Infact, I have been working on the same darn picture book for three years.It is about anger, so maybe I'm in the perfect place to work on it. Check out my friend Brian Anderson's comedy chapter book series: Zack Proton. Brian is a very funny man as well as a teacher, children's book writer, and screewriter. Did I mention Zack Proton is a series? Go Brian!

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

2006-05-16T21:11:00.000-04:00

Still raining

2006-05-15T20:22:00.000-04:00

It is Monday and still raining. I think we are on day six, maybe it is seven. I think the rain started last Tuesday. I'm certainly glad that I don't live in Seattle. I can't imagine what that is like. I am longing for the sun.

I got to sketch today at my son's preschool. It was wonderful. Such an odd and interesting creature the preschooler. I got there right at recess in the big gym. It was like being caught in a pinball machine. They bounced this way and that, ricocheting against each other and from game to game. Very hard to do anything more than gesture drawings. I would post some, but in order to get permission to sketch, I promised that none of the sketches would go on the internet.

Rain by Robert Louis Stevenson
The rain is raining all around,
It falls on field and tree;
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.

Happy Mother's Day

2006-05-14T10:43:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to my mother, Ruth and to all moms and grandmothers out there.

Illustration Friday: Angels and Devils

2006-05-13T10:29:00.000-04:00

The do it yourself haircut by a four year old.

NESCBWI conference part 3

2006-05-13T07:22:00.000-04:00

That's it. The last period. You have just finished the first draft of your masterpiece and you are sure that this is the one. This is the piece you will send out and not get back in that SASE. This is the one that after a few months, you will hear the phone ring, you will pick it up and an editor's voice will be at the other end of the phone line. You print it and leave it on the printer. Go away, you say. Get some space, you say. Read it later. So you go and you get some space and when you come back, you read it aloud and...It stinks. Time to revise.

Linda Sue Park gave a wonderful (in her words) "tough love" speech for aspiring authors. As I mentioned in the previous post, her ideas were not especially new. They just made me aware in a different way at a different level. The idea that stood out the most was her renaming of revision as Play. "Try it," she urged. Try a new point of view, new wording, take out a character, make the character more important in the scene. Play. She compared cutting a manuscript to the old game show, Name that Tune. She suggested saying to yourself, "I can tell that story in 800 words." Then again, "I can tell that story in 600 words." At some point you will find the place that is just right.

A huge thanks to Linda Sue for her words of wisdom as "tough" as they are to take sometimes, they ring true. Now, it is time to Play.

Prelude to Mother's Day

2006-05-11T08:03:00.000-04:00

My small boy has been giving me little drawings and bits of paper with letters on it for the past week. He gearing up for Mother's Day, as in everyday is Mother's Day. He loves special occasions and holidays and this is no different.

This doesn't stop him from being his usual almost-five-year-old self: Angry and selfish one moment and cuddling, giving, and sensitive the next. We spent most of yesterday creating a mermaid puppet on my sewing machine. I sewed on the face by hand, purple button eyes, embroidered nose and mouth. I stuffed quilters fill in the top to make the face a little puffy. We added yarn hair,and purple fabric that he picked out. I measured, I cut, I sewed, I stuffed, and when I put it on his hand he looked at it and said. "We should have bought the one in the store, Mommmy."

AARGH!

Here is his Mommy fairy picture with the kiddo on the Mom's back.

NESCBWI conference thoughts part 2

2006-05-08T11:06:00.000-04:00

Illustration. Visual storytelling. Each image needs a focus, intriguing characters, relationships between characters (action and reaction), setting, costumes, the drawing is the thing (to paraphrase Shakespeare). At least twice last weekend, illustrators compared illustration to acting. Linda S. Wingerter presented her art that glows with color and emotion after layers and layers of acrylic paint and glazes. Timothy Basil Ering presented his huge body of work that showed his evolution from high school doodler to fine artist and illustrator. Linda showed how her work came from a very spiritual place, while Timothy was passion, and enthusiasm to the core. Each artist has completely different art but each used the idea of theatre to convey the process of their work.

Throughout the weekend, in addition to the presentations, I also participated in a portfolio showcase and a critique. Originally, I was just going to do the showcase (a jury of industry professionals judge your work) but I was left so empty after the experience as their was no feedback. Either you won or you didn't. I didn't win. Does that mean keep going? Fuggetaboudid? What? I felt I had to have a critique after that. The critique was honest, blunt, and hopeful. In one drawing, I may have a character but not interaction. In another, I may have interaction, but not the setting. My visual storytelling is not on par with my writing and I know that. Going into Timothy's presentation I was feeling defeated and sad. I spent so much time working on new pieces for the portfolio, and then felt inferior.

After Timothy's speech, I found a new point of view. The one that has kept me going so far. Presevere, he said. Tenacity, he said. Skill and experience, he showed. And so, for the next six months I am making the resolution to only use graphite. To work on value, the lights and darks that help a reader find the focus and emotion in a scene. To be the director of each image as if it is a play. The drawing is the thing!

NESCBWI Conference thoughts part 1

2006-05-07T07:50:00.000-04:00

It has been a week since I returned from the New England Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' spring conference. It has taken me the week to process and mull all the wonderful things that I've learned and felt. First of all the conference was amazingingly planned and executed. Congratulations to the team of volunteers that make this conference work each year. Second, if you live in the New England area and you write and/or illustrate for children, you should attend the conference at least once.

This is my fifth year and each year I am amazed at how much I come away with. At this point, I feel as though I know quite a bit about the industry and the craft of writing (Then why aren't you published, Anna? Hush, that's another post.) So, it is not that I learn so much more each time. Instead, I am shown things I know in a different way. It's as if I held up a mirror and instead of seeing my own reflection, I catch a glimpse of something in the background. Something that is always in the background, but in the mirror it is framed in a way that catches my attention. Sometimes, that way is enough to spark a whole new line of thinking about my work in progress. Each day this week, I hope to relate something from the conference that has informed my work and passion.

Jennifer Richard Jacobson had an interesting presentation with Kara LeReau (For many years with Candlewick, now with Scholastic)about the evolution of Andy Shane and the Very Bossy Dolores Starbuckle. This book had its beginnings as a picture book and, through Kara's guidance, Jennifer turned it into an early chapter book series in order to more explore the characters. I have a picture book that I have been wrestling through about seven different drafts, never feeling that I could shove the character or his story into the limit of 32 pages. And, that the subject needed to explored further. This week, I have been trying the story as an early chapter book and I am thrilled with the results. Jacob Daniel (my main character) is finally getting the room to speak and to listen to others, to grow and to change. Isn't that what we all want of our main characters? Tomorrow, illustration. Portfolio showcases, critiques and the amazing and incredible Timothy Basil Ering. (my new idle and mentor)

Liquid Masque

2006-04-19T07:45:00.000-04:00

I've always used rubber cement for masking areas in a picture that I don't want painted but recently I needed something a little thinner so I picked up liquid masque. Some of the edges turned out pretty rough and bits got through here and there. If anyone out there has tips for applying or removing masque I'm all ears.

Nurse gets sick

2006-04-17T08:43:00.000-04:00

So it seems that the Mama nurse finally got sick too. I'm in bed, hot and cold, stuffy, sore muscles, gross. Good thing it is spring break and my kids are happy to watch cartoons on PBS this morning.

Spring break

2006-04-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

Spring break starts today and I am grateful that we are not going to Florida. I just need a little rest in my own home. A chance to do some spring cleaning and work in the studio. I'm okay with using the TV for a babysitter for a little while as the kids hardly ever get to watch. Anyhow, TV turn off week starts the week after vacation so it will be off limits then. Beautiful day. I think the forsythia will be in bloom before the end of next week.

Passover

2006-04-12T10:29:00.000-04:00

Tonight is the first seder of Passover. Ours will be a very laid back affair this year. I was hoping for my kids to have friends to share the experience with but we have had a lot of sickness over the last month and I didn't invite anyone in time. So it will be just us and not a very fancy dinner. But the important part is the story. The story is the thing, with its characters, and conflict, and ultimate changes: Moses and the pharoh, Miriam and Yoshevet, plagues and protests, slavery and finally freedom. I should write so well. Check out the full moon tonight!

Birthday Boy

2006-04-11T10:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to my son. He is seven today. It is a little amazing to think of myself as a mom of a seven year old. It is a beautiful sunny day to remember my little guy's spring birth. When we brought him home from the hospital seven years ago, snow flurries hung on the edges of the daffodils. Tiny pink perenials that we had cut from Chris's grandmother's garden were blooming. She has since passed away and we are in a new house but I always think of Ruth and those flowers on this day. It is amazing that with your first child you are able to luxuriate in the newness of their life. With my second child I was already too busy to just watch him sleep.

The mommy is restless...

2006-04-09T08:43:00.000-04:00

"8:41, 8:45, 8:50, Honey, when will the parents get here?"
"Not until 9:00, Anna."
"When is that?"
"Soon. Now come eat your breakfast."

The marauders are restless...

2006-04-08T22:05:00.000-04:00

"7:31, 7:35, 7:50, Mom, when will they get here?"
"Not until 5:00 tonight."
"When is that?"
"Dinner time. Now come eat your breakfast."
Imagine this conversation repeated about a million times. I lost it a couple times between cleaning and baking. My guys were so excited about the party. It turned out great. The kids are so self-directed in their play at this age. I just stayed out of the way and made sure noone got hurt. It is a little hard giving up the "game leader" position though.

Now, the sleep-over gang is trying to settle down. I'd feel a lot better about going to sleep myself if they were all sleeping. My husband just went to quiet them down again. I imagine they are pretty beat after playing hard for five hours and consuming great amounts of junk food. Hmmm, it's getting quieter. Thank goodness I have bookclub to escape to in the morning.

Soccer mom

2006-04-08T07:23:00.000-04:00

Today I am prepping for our first slumber party. My son turns seven and I agreed to this a few months ago. I started out saying only three friends but I quickly gave into more when he couldn't invite this or that friend. Now we have five other kids, still managable. I hope the rain clears up so I can send them outside as much as possible. Spring soccer starts today as well.

I got some of my program brochures in the mail yesterday and I'm hoping to finish addressing the rest of the "local schools" stack today. Checking off those spring goals!

Online Exhibit

2006-04-06T11:04:00.000-04:00

Here it is... the long awaited Art of Illustration, an original online art exhibit by maine illustrators with an exclusive audio track by pleasure technicians. Don't miss it! No babysitter needed.

Illustration friday "spring"

2006-04-05T08:11:00.000-04:00

I did this last year but I'm pulling it out again to rework in gouache for my portfolio.

Sushi at noon

2006-04-05T08:03:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's rain
brought my husband
home
from construction work
at noon.
We went for sushi.
Alone.

New Sketch

2006-04-04T21:39:00.000-04:00

I can't show you my card submissions but I'd love to hear comments on this portfolio piece I've been sketching.

Today paint...

2006-04-04T11:14:00.000-04:00

...and photoshop, and papercut.

Today, draw.

2006-04-03T11:34:00.000-04:00

The deadline approacheth.

Fluctuating art forms.

2006-04-02T09:23:00.000-04:00

Yes, that is fluctuating not flatulating. It's funny how, as a writer and an illustrator, I fluctuate between those two muses. It tends to be that I want to write and write, then I don't want anything to do with it until I draw, and draw. Often deadlines are the catalyst that pulls me from one art form to the other. I have a deadline for greeting card submissions pulling me from the computer to my drawing board right now. Aack! It's got my rolly chair! Wait, I want to finish this query for Charlesbridge.....

The art of the query.

2006-04-01T09:22:00.000-05:00

I am big into the art of the query these days. I recently found a used copy of How to Write Irresistible Query Letters, by Lisa Collier Cool and also took the online "course" provided by Mridhu Khullar. (This is really a teaser to buy her query book.) I am starting to put the learning into action with queries to magazines, agents and publishers. I find that I am less afraid to act on my non-fiction ideas with a query as I only need to outline my plans as opposed to creating the entire finished piece as with fiction manuscripts. In fact, I am hoping to knock on some "closed to unsolicited manuscript" houses with fiction queries as well. I'll keep you updated.

In other news, I am expecting a slew of rejections any day now as I sent out a few manuscripts in late December and early January. I tiny diamond of hope inside is saying that I haven't received them yet because they are being considered for publication. Never the less, I am expecting Spam (not steak). Has anyone else had delays in communication from the Cricket group perhaps due to their move?

Art Mingling a success

2006-03-31T11:38:00.000-05:00

The Art Mingling, sponsored by the Portland Phoenix and held at the Asylum in Portland, was well attended. Big thanks to Leticia Plate my co-president at the Maine Illustrators' Collective and Lisa Craig the AD at the Portland Phoenix. In a few days I will have a link for you to view the exhibit: The Art of Illustration, at the Boston Phoenix site. A variety of illustrators from the Maine Illustrators' Collective, Students from Maine College of Art and some professors brought art to show. The theme was political and world issues.
How 'bout that weather- we've hit 60 degrees and rising!

What boys are reading

2006-03-29T07:37:00.000-05:00

The Portland Press Herald has been running an interesting series about boys and academics, the "new gender gap" in education. This link includes most of the articles and a top 10 book list of what middle school boys are reading. Fantasy rates often on the list and a book of poems written by teenage boys is second on to the top spot. And, why am I not surprised, the Simpsons. Don't have a cow, dude. For more info on this, check out Jon Scieszka's site Guys Read.

Interlibrary Loan

2006-03-28T09:40:00.000-05:00

I was going to gripe about noone appreciating the fact that I wash, fold and put away everyone's clothes but instead...I'm going to extol the virtues of interlibrary loan. I love interlibrary loan. I have access to books in universities and distant libraries for free if I can just be a little patient. I mentioned that I bought the Illustrator's Bible, by Rob Howard,and one of the helpful reference tips he suggests is getting a copy of the Fairburn System of Visual Reference. Well the volumes are quite expensive, some are out of print, and used ones are even more expensive for their collector appeal. Down to the library I go, fill out a form, and voila... I get a call saying it is waiting for me at my local fabulous library. Try it!

Ruth's Sketchbook

2006-03-21T10:47:00.000-05:00

Do not miss a chance to see Ruth Bradshaw McNally's sketchbook from the NYC Winter SCBWI national conference. Congrats to Ruth on her new book coming out with Bloomsbury. Watch her website for more info.

DC Trip

2006-03-20T19:55:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a weekend in DC. I went to see the exhibit of all the entries to the National Cherry Blossom Festival Poster contest of which I was a participant. The exhibit was very educational as it one doesn't usually get a chance to see the competition in these types of contests. Some entries were very professional others were amateurish. Those that were most competant or professional didn't especially win if they didn't ground the festival in DC and have some readable depiction of the blossoms. Also, one of the judges mentioned to me that it was important to the committee that nothing be depicted that might upset the Japanese community. Therefore, any stereotypical Japanese symbol should be removed. Very informative.

My poster, which looked great in my studio, looked very sparse next to the rest of the entries. I noticed immediately that my image didn't include any DC monuments or symbols. It's okay though, I've already started on sketching for next year.

On another note all together, here are Sam (dog) and Ivan (cat) in my studio.

Spring?

2006-03-13T08:47:00.000-05:00

Just a short post today. The birds are singing, the squirrels are...well... squirreling, and the sun is warm. Yes, warm. I am going to teach my exercise class and then come back and write and paint! I also hope to sketch outside some today. I have a great book on gouache by Rob Howard that is teaching me a lot. I look forward to trying some of the demos in the book. Hmmm, once again, too much to do in the few hours I have before small people start nibbling at my knees.

Gallery Openings

2006-03-06T11:56:00.000-05:00

I received my invitation to the Gallery Opening for the Poster Contest for the National Cherry Blossom Festival that I entered last year. While I did not win, my entry will be displayed along with the other entries. If anyone in the DC area wants to see the exhibit, it will be at The Art Institute of Washington. Check out the winning entry by Anne Marie Williams. The show will be up from March 18th-April 8th.

Here in Portland, Maine, the Phoenix paper sponsors a series of "Art Minglings." "The Art of Illustration", including my work and work by many members of the Maine Illustrators Collective will be held on March 30th, 6-9 pm at the Assylum. It will be very casual beer, a band,and our art tacked to the wall. Hope you can come.

Time Waster

2006-03-05T11:47:00.000-05:00

Just the fact that I am on the internet means I'm wasting time. But, if you need any help finding something useless to do try this link, where you can boogie, and pop like the best New York City jammers. In the game, players create their own BODYJAM personality and then play against a virtual instructor or friends and other players. The player watches the instructor's dance moves, and then copies the sequence. With each round, the instructor adds more moves and speed, increasing the challenge. To
check it out, go to www.virtualbodyjam.com

How do you get illustration jobs?

2006-03-02T10:17:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it is officially March, three months have gone by and I am in the hurry up and wait mode for a batch of writing that went out in January. I am deep into my illustration mode, entering contests and reworking my portfolio for the April NESCBWI conference in Nashua, NH. Once again, I am wondering about spending the smartest marketing dollars. I'd love your comments about on-line portfolios. I've listed some below and hope that someone will chime in about whether they use an on-line portfolio service and if it has gotten them any work at all. If nothing else, you will waste a lot of time surfing beautiful portfolios. This is what keeps me from completing my own work most days.

ispot
portfolios.com
createmagazine.com
21portfolios.com
childrensillustrator.com
folioplanet
picturebook artists association

I'm still here.

2006-02-28T20:17:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day of February so I have definetly shirked on my blogging duties. (As it were.) However, I have many excuses. One is that my husband went away for his two weeks with the Naval Reserves. My days were filled with being a mommy,a chauffer, a chef, a housekeeper, an animal keeper (really the cat and dog not my kids) and then falling into a deep sleep. I did this for a week until my parents wisked me and the kids on a fun-filled Celebrity cruise to Key West, Cozumel and Costa Maya. Well, Costa Maya was the big exciting port of call where we were going to visit the rain forest and the Mayan ruins. Didn't happen. The seas were too choppy and we ended up with an extra day at sea. Very disappointing. Anyhow, I got some rest, some warm weather, and some grown-up time, my kids loved the kids club on the ship and made some friends.
Now I am back home (read: cold) and back with my honey (read: hot). Did everyone get their Highlights Fiction Contest entries in? Next deadline: Smart Writers W.I.N contest March 15th.

Thank you Saint Valentine

2006-02-14T20:10:00.000-05:00

I love Valentine's day but I sure am glad that this one is over. Let me now confess that I never sent my Christmas/Chanukah cards. I thought for sure I'd do it at the New Year as that has been the pattern over the last few years. When I missed all of January, I promised myself that I would update my friends and family around Valentine's Day. Well, I've missed that too. However, I made two dozen muffins for the first grade Valentine's healthy snack event, and help set-up and clean-up. I also made two dozen cookies for the Pre-school decorating activity. I used mixes so it really wasn't a big deal. What is a big deal is doing those things in addition to everything else. And I mean EVERYTHING else. I'm playing single mom while my hubby is on Navy detachment. The hardest part is not being able to tag off. Not having my teammate. "You read, I'll be on KP." or "You wash hair, and I'll wipe the tushy." I always get stuck with the gross thing but at least it isn't everything.

We had a playdate after school then we ate breakfast for dinner. I made heart shaped pancakes. (Helpful hint: put the batter in a squeeze ketchup bottle so you can make shapes: hearts, bears, giraffes) This evening we read all the valentines that came home and made candy bags for each kiddo. The kids did their jobs, with much procrastination, then I read a few chapters in Magic Tree House. They were asleep within minutes. Now it's my turn. Oops. I still have to clean the kitchen. It'll wait. That's my Valentine to myself.

Swimming with the big fish...

2006-02-11T08:23:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Cindy Lord on her first school visit for her book Rules. Swimmin' with the big fish now.

I am not swimming with the big fish. I am still swishing my tail wildly trying to swim upstream. The journey has been lengthy already and I'm starting to wonder how far there is to go until the elusive editor who loves me is found. Never the less I will keep on swishing and splashing. I'm working on my pre-school dummy, and starting final drafts of a series of greeting cards that I will submit in March. Last year this time I was busy prepping a bunch of entries into various contests. This year, I have so many projects in the air that I think I need to stay focused on finishing them instead of writing to a contest. We'll see. I've been working on my Highlights contest submission for a while now. Maybe that will make the deadline.

Preschool behaviors

2006-02-08T10:29:00.000-05:00

Beautiful sunshine this morning but cold, cold, cold. I am working on a storyboard for my pre-school book. It is so fun to put in all the funny things this age kid likes to do: girls pulling on their skirts, kids chasing, shy kids hiding. "I can do it all by myself." What funny things do your pre-schoolers do?

Books for February Break

2006-02-04T07:15:00.000-05:00

The groundhog says six more weeks of winter, but the fog is feasting on snow and ice this early February morning. There is a definite spring-like feeling in the air. I know. It could be a trick. In fact, as soon as my husband goes away with the Navy arctic winds will jet stream in from Canada and put us in a deep freeze with plenty of snow. At least I'll be able to go skiing. If you are snowed in any time soon I recommend the following books written for middle grade kids: Chasing Vermeer (A puzzle and pattern based art heist mystery) Spy Mice (Mice against the rats again. This time set in the Spy Museum in Washington DC. Very clever and great fun if you've spent time in DC.) Flush (Environmental who done it with a great brother sister relationship. The lead character seemed a little too mature for me but tell me what you think.) All of these are plot driven and fun to read if you have a reluctant reader ages 10-14. Great reads for kids over February break.

Tuesday before groundhog day.

2006-01-31T13:19:00.000-05:00

Why is it that Tuesdays seem so unproductive? I spent most of the morning excavating our bills basket and writing checks. Nothing like paying bills to make one question one's decision to be an artist/writer. And so, I went to the seer of all seers, that humble prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil. Ask him a question he'll tell you the answer. He's right too. He knows that I will "definitely" need to pick up my husband from work, (The truck is broken.) and that the chance that I will make money from my art and writing is "highly doubtful." Thanks to Cindy Lord for that time waster.

Birthday Thoughts

2006-01-26T10:35:00.000-05:00

So...35 is not a whole lot different from 34. Imagine that. However, 35 is a world away from 7. It does seem odd that my parent's have a 35 year old baby. (But I can always sit on their laps.)

My babies are now almost 7 and 5. Yesterday, our digital piano was programmed to play "Happy Birthday." The song that came next was "Pomp and Circumstance." My husband and I immediately looked at each other with wet eyes. "Are you sad because it's been so long since we've heard that, or because it will be so soon when we hear it for the boys." "The boys," he said.

Hummingbirds and butterflies and fairies...

2006-01-23T12:49:00.000-05:00

Oh my. It is snowing outside my window. I look out into the tops of the trees from my studio window and the branches are covered with white. The pines boughs are bending. Must be wet snow. Indeed, the snow is very sticky (dog needed to go out). Great for making snow balls and snowmen.

I just completed an exciting water color of three fairy children exploring and discovering a hummingbird and a butterfly in a garden. It is funny to turn and see snow after being "in" my summer garden setting. I'm very pleased with it and feel that it is a more marketable style than my current portfolio. I hope to work on more images in this style in preparation for the spring NESCBWI conference (April 28-30) I especially want to complete a character in a series of drawings to show consistancy. This has always been difficult for me but I think I'm just coming to terms with the fact that I need reference for drawing. If I'm working from a picture or model I think the consistancy issue would take care of itself.

Wednesday is my 35th birthday and the one year anniversary of the Maine Illustrators' Collective. Let's eat cake!

Alone and loving it.

2006-01-21T14:32:00.000-05:00

My children and husband just left for the weekend to attend a cousin's birthday party and I find I am "All by myself..." sing it Anna. Wait, a touch of FAME..."Out here on my own" How come all those songs are about NOT wanting to be alone. I am actually ecstatic about this opportunity. Over the next two days I will: read, write, paint, go to my bookgroup, nap, eat chocolate, and not feel guilty about any of it.

New Bookshelf

2006-01-14T21:06:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I just bought a new bookcase from Staples, which is not at all the point of this posting but definitely the catalyst. So, as an extension of the January muck out that I've been doing in my studio, I waded through the books and papers I had stuffed in my old bookcase. The new bookcase is taller (two more shelves, yahoo) so I was able to finally empty the cardboard box that has been sitting next to the old bookcase since we moved into this house fall of '04. In the box, I found a few books, a bunch of files I chucked into the reycling bin, and my journals and sketch books of old. I started to read.

Wow! I became an anthropologist and archaeologists at once. Who was this girl turned young woman? She was so righteous, so judgemental, so confused. Her poetry stank until about 1990 when suddenly she started to straighten out her thoughts. Her metaphors became a little less complex and convoluted. That was the spring of my freshman year in college and I guess I was in love, according to my writing, but with whom, honestly I'm not sure. I met my husband in the spring of the next year so it wasn't him.

Then the drawing just blew me away. I have periods in college when I drew all the time. Lucky me. In my solitude, I took my sketch book everywhere. I painted too. My color use is really interesting, the subject matter could only be classified as spiritual and angst filled. Much about our place in the universe and what is love.

It is so interesting that I became a generally satisfied, very organized, goal oriented, in control of the house, planner kind of person. (Although there are hints of leadership from a very interesting entry the night I was the on-duty RA during a frat party I had to close down.) Is this just what happens with maturity and responsibility? What will this post look like 15 years from now?

Bread

2006-01-10T11:52:00.000-05:00

One of the New Year's resolutions I have made is to bake our own bread. Part of the decision is about health, some economic, and some selfish. I love making bread. The magic of yeast, an organism that feeds on the warmth and sweetness of honey or sugar to grow my loaf. The warm flour mixes with the yeast liquid under my fingers. Sticky dough becomes elastic as I rhythmically push and turn the dough. Kneading-- what a release and great upper arms too (forget pushups). So I made a nice wheat loaf the other day and this morning I made a white dough that I will use for rolls and sandwich bread. I figure that even if it is white flour, my loaves will be healthier than the loaves at the store with preservatives.

I remember a children's book from when I was in elementary school about a children who assume their neighbors who live in a haunted house are witches. The kids hear the witches chanting or singing something that makes the kids think they are pounding on someone and cooking them, but they are really kneading dough and baking bread. The end had a recipe for bread. Does anyone else remember this or know the title?

First Grade Hello!

2006-01-09T12:38:00.000-05:00

A big hello to Ms. Major's class in Shamokin, PA. I got a wonderful note from the class. They are doing a project to collect emails from 100 authors and illustrators. I am honored to be included.
For me, there is nothing like being with the children I write for to inspire me to write and draw more.

That said, I better go do the research I have to do instead of wasting more time on the web.

Muck out

2006-01-05T09:58:00.000-05:00

I'm finding that the state of my studio is creating a definite block to creativity and work. I need to muck out from the holidays. The studio became the hiding spot for all gifts and the wrapping area as well. Bits of gift paper, scissors, note cards, crayons and half finished kids' drawings have taken over. Piles of my work, mostly unfinished have been shoved aside. It is time for a change. A time to take back my space. Huzzah! Or is this just another procrastination tool? Hmmmm...

When to keep a kid home?

2006-01-03T09:02:00.000-05:00

So today should be it. The day I send both kids back to school and get a few hours to myself for the first time in over two weeks. Ha! You think things work out for juggling Mommies? Don't be silly. My youngest who has had a snuffly nose for the last 10 days wakes up with a deep cough this morning. I'm trying to get through to the doctor and keeping him home. Could he manage a couple of hours at pre-school? Ofcourse. Should I expose all the other families to this illness? Probably not. So, I set him up in front of the tv with a bunch of movies and off I go.

Goal today: A few good sketches and some DC research. Maybe a trip to the library this afternoon.

Catching Up, Starting new

2005-12-28T20:22:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've written. You'd think that I'd be able to catch up on writing and drawing displaced by candy canes and baked hams, but now we are full tilt into dreidels and latkes at my house. More excuses to put aside writing and drawing. At least the to do's that I'm currently working on are due in mid-January to give me some catch up time. Actually, I've been doing a lot of thinking about holidays and the true meaning of such. That is the Highlights for Children fiction contest this year and so I'm exploring some characters and situations as I drive to the children's museum or sled with my kids. I'm really enjoying the just being this holiday and trying not to stress.

On another note, the Books Etc. tote bags will be delivered this week and that will bring in some cash.

(The next list...)
New Year's resolutions:

1) clean and organize studio
2) try to do morning writing pages at least three times a week
3) send program brochures to schools and libraries
4) sign up for one course that will help me move me forward on one project this spring
5) keep on submitting and getting rejected. There's got to be a contract out there for me.

Do you have similar goals? What are yours?

Work slow down

2005-12-15T20:57:00.000-05:00

I am an idea person. I love the excitment of the new idea, the start, the exploration, the gathering of information. Then things slow down. It is not that I don't follow through. Not exactly. In fact, I am a great detail person too. I love planning events and seeing them through. However, my writing projects seem to get to a certain point and then languish. Perhaps it is because there are so many now that I do not know where to start. I hear my novelist friends talk about how they are loving being with one character or another. I have so many projects going that I have not had time to become cozy with just one. Maybe it is because I have shorter writing pieces. Also, I have two non-fiction projects that require quite a bit of research to get them to submission and to tell the truth, I'm a little frustrated with doing so much work on speculation.

I'm sure that if I could get something accepted in the next few weeks it would give me the boost I need to get going again. Ofcourse there are deadlines I have given myself. Contest and grant deadlines too. These help. I also set the deadlines after the first week of January so that I can get by the holidays. They are certainly weighing heavily on me right now.

It also doesn't help that we had a snow day last Friday and they are predicting another for tomorrow. Add two days onto the end of the year, sheesh. My feeling is , make the busses tougher and get those kids to school. If school closes tomorrow, I also miss my second Friday aerobics class in a row, and I need the money for gifts and bills. Rain, freezing rain, go away.

Work time

2005-11-30T09:45:00.000-05:00

I love silence. I move through it as if it were water. It slows me down and bubbles past me as I walk. My ears fill up with silence and force me to listen to the words in my head. I close my eyes and images flash before me. A child tugging at his mother's skirt in the museum. The grasshopper on my hand in the insect zoo. The Thanksgiving table. I do not miss the voices in the house. I'm not worried about the lack of laundry sounds. I do not need music.
Purrr. Ivan breaks the silence.

Web site redesigned!

2005-11-28T09:58:00.000-05:00

My web site , completely redesigned, is up and running thanks to John Bald. I hope you will take a look at my easier-to-access portfolio images.

I am busy sending out promotional postcards to everyone I can think of. I have 1000 postcards and 200 stamps. I guess I'll have to stand on the corner handing out the last 800, or if you are a close friend expect these as your holiday greeting cards.

I am fighting the creative slow down that I often get around the holiday season. I just returned home after a week with my parents. I did not create one sketch, not even a doodle but would like to return to the natural history museum in DC with a sketch pad and no children. The taxidermy and skeletons are plentiful and the scenes with children are too. I tried to get a lot of "memory photos" of the dino bones from the perspective of being on my knees. They look even bigger from down there. I hope my writing and illustration groups will give me the push I need to keep drawing and writing. To this end, I better get off the internet and get to work.

Platform for life

2005-11-09T09:54:00.000-05:00

Another election day and recent television offerings made me think about what we are trying to say to our leaders by what we choose to watch. First let me say that I've been a bit of a couch potato recently and I'm somewhat embarrassed to report on this at all but here goes.

The West Wing has been in the middle of an election. Sunday's episode was a live (really) debate between the two candidates who on air, abandon the rules and agree to a straight debate. Each of them has moments where they choose to be straight with the "American public" about their ideas and the shortcomings of their policies and programs. The new show about the presidency with Geena Davis as the president has her confronting the press and setting the record straight on an insider tell all book.
Lesson: We are craving honesty and straight forward communication from our political leaders. We have been lied to by presidents of both parties and their inner circle as well as business leaders and celebrities. We are trying desperately to teach our children honesty and responsibility but are faced with constant unethical behavior by those in the public eye.

I think My Name is Earl is the funniest show on tv right now. Earl has resolved to change his life and is trying to make good on the bad things he's done.
Lesson: Do unto others as you'd have them do to you. Kindness pays. Have an open mind. Wouldn't it be nice if corporations our leaders would consider the golden rule as they create environmental and labor policies.

The Biggest Loser is one reality show I'm willing to watch. Here are people who have pledged to turn their lives around in the face of our fast food eating self indulgent culture. They are losing weight and exercising, providing role models for others of the millions of obese individuals who are watching. I've never seen reality show contestants that are more remorseful to say goodbye to the other contestants. They have formed a bond that has helped them succeed in reaching their goals.
Lesson: We can succeed if we join together. We are stronger united than divided. Competition can be helpful and can push us to increase our expectations of ourselves. There is no goal to difficult to reach if you have the appropriate support and education.

If you just read the lessons you'd have my platform for life. Remember this on Election Day 2006, Tuesday, November 7th. VOTE!

Toothfairy partners with Great Pumpkin

2005-11-07T12:06:00.000-05:00

At the Boll household, Halloween candy was taking over. Here is how I solved the problem. I told my children that they could pick their 20 (you could always say less or more) favorite pieces. The rest we put into a decorated bag and set by the jack-o-lanterns at night. Guess what? The tooth fairy came, took the candy, and left each kiddo $1 to put in their piggy bank instead. The money could go to trick-or-treat for unicef as well. My kids put a little in the Tzedakah box at synagouge each week so I, I mean the toothfairy, gave them the money. Much less candy. No arguments. Happy Mom. Happy kids.

I'm out here

2005-11-03T10:19:00.000-05:00

Recently, I have been thinking about marketing. Thoughts of marketing often come up around the end of the year. Consumers are gearing up to buy stuff. I have cute t-shirts for kids on my website. Very few people know about them. The thing about cyber space is that it is so spacious. It is hard to get people to navigate to your very own small spot in cyberspace. So what do you do? Take out ads, post on other sites, send email notices to friends and family? How do other people deal with this? Certainly if I had a book and could market off of its success it would be a different story. But then, I'd have to market the book as well. Hmmmm.

Cherry Blossom Festival Show

2005-10-26T10:45:00.000-04:00

So yes, the Cherry Blossom folks will be showing the poster contest entries during the festival. They will be on exhibit from March 18-April 1 at the Art Institute of Washington' Gallery in Arlington, Virginia. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, March 18th from 11 am to 1 pm. I am very excited that my work will be on exhibit. This also gives me an excuse to go to DC in the spring. I've missed the wonderful show of tulips around the mall and the daffodils on the P street beach.

Marketing

2005-10-25T10:14:00.000-04:00

I'm starting to address hundreds of fall promotional postcards to send to publishers, card companies, graphic designers and others. It is part of the marketing plan I have set in place for myself. This is the first year of my business and I set a goal to do one-three mailings this year. This one will be number two. The first one didn't get me any work and I don't suppose this one will either. However, it makes me feel that I am not a hobbyist and allows me to get my name and images seen. Perhaps someone of the hundreds of people will set up an "Anna J. Boll" file somewhere or stick my postcard on their bulletin board. Then some editor will walk by and say, "Hey, who is that illustrator. I have a book that she'd be perfect for." Well...you never know.

Year two goal is three mailings and possibly paying for a source book ad in Picture Book . Only if the postcards get me some work though.

First frost

2005-10-21T10:42:00.000-04:00

Frost was on the ground this morning and I failed to pick my great basil crop. I had planned to freeze cubes of pesto but I think I missed my chance. Our spring this year was non-existant. Winter and mud lingered and then suddenly it was the end of June and hot. Now it seems that fall will be a literal wash out. We got pummeled with rain and now the frost is on the pumpkins. The leaves are still on the trees though and many are still unchanged. They have been fooled by rainy warmth.

I heard from the National Cherry Blossom Poster contest. I did not win, but they are hoping to create an exhibit of the 70 entries in a gallery during the festival next spring. That would be great.

Highlights is considering a few of my poems right now and I hope to hear from them soon. I need to finish up DC for Me and submit it to Charlesbridge. Preschool Jumble is simultaneously submitted. I don't know if I'll hear anything anytime soon.

The big talk in my family is about the trip we are going to make to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. I can hardly believe we are talking about November. Where did the year go?

We did it!

2005-10-09T06:09:00.000-04:00

I am looking at the evaluation forms for the Fall Folio Feast and smiling.
"Very classy event."
"Excellent [art] quite a variety."
[Enjoyed],"the atmosphere, the speaker, the food too!"
"Great to meet other illustrators and talk about the business."
"Very friendly, informal, professional atmosphere."
"Food was lovely."
[Enjoyed]" meeting illustrators and buyers."
"Terrific [art] very high quality."

I am so pleased. It was so satisfying to look around yesterday and see what I had envisioned and worked for so many months become a reality. The abstract thought/idea/concept becoming concrete.

The event spurred interest in the organization and, I think that through word of mouth, we will grow. The art buyers were impressed by what we had to offer. I hope they too will spread the word. Perhaps when they are looking for someone to hire, they will come to our website first.

Event Planning Haiku

2005-09-27T11:26:00.000-04:00

event planning is
only under your control
until the event

Start the countdown. Ten days until the Fall Folio Feast and I'm scurrying around to round up reluctant illustrators. We still have spaces for illustrators to show their portfolios. As it is the ratio will be great for the illustrators who attend. People will get a chance to talk with each other in a relaxed and intimate way. Contact all the illustrators you know and get them to sign up.

Autumnal Equinox Haiku

2005-09-21T09:41:00.000-04:00

Night comes faster now
squeezing play time and coaxing
us to bed early.

Warriors in the battle against sedentary lifestyle or Thank you Darren.

2005-09-19T09:46:00.000-04:00

Today we stray from the topics of art and family to focus on self and fitness. I spent this past weekend taking my instructor training to be a Body Step instructor. I am back at least one pant size smaller and a changed woman.

I have been involved in athletic endeavors in a round-about way. As a young child I took a lot of modern dance and in college I was in the African Dance troupe. In high school, looking for a place to fit in, I found the newly created crew team. Anyone could join, no cuts. Many of the kids were like me. They never played sports seriously and were looking for something new. Others were hard core soccer players or members of the swim team looking for a sport for a different season. It turned out that crew was an all year affair. An affair with our coaches who made us run long distances, hills, and stairs. They created circuit training that left us moaning and groaning. Then we rowed. An experience, that when done correctly (our college-aged coaches told us) was better than sex. I did not get the analogy at that point in my life, (I suppose some of my teammates did) but the experience is incredible. Eight oars dip into the water silently and with one collective swoosh the entire boat picks up and skims across the surface. If you all work together, pull at the same intensity and rate, the boat stays there, on the surface, for the entire course. The only sound is that of the coxswain calling out stroke ratings, pushing you to go farther, and cheering you on when you give her all that you can give. Then take it even farther. That was then. I was sixteen years old and had very few responsibilities.

Jump almost 20 years into the future. I am 34 years old and have had two children. I am married and I'm trying to reinvent myself as an artist/writer after teaching middle grades for ten years. My responsibilities weigh on me and I often feel stressed. I go to the gym to release and get that push. I am powerful and enthusiastic when I go to my Body Step classes. I feel competent and cocky.

Enter in Darren Watson. Les Mills trainer extraordinaire. He is funky and cool and he took me back to my "crew-self" in 48 hours. Certainly he kicked my butt physically. It was like boot camp. I have never completed so much physical activity in such a condensed period of time and have never been so exhausted. Nor have I sweated so much in my life. We accomplished successive Body Step classes (trust me, one is fabulous and more than enough). We ran, we did circuit training from hell, (Darren: you need to learn to read a second hand, one minute is only 60 seconds), and we were given a song track exercise routine to learn on Saturday that we had to perform/teach Sunday morning.

I did it. I did it all. I am proud and more importantly I am humbled. Humbled by what I now know my instructors do to help me be the best I can be in class. Humbled by how much I will need to do to prepare for my certification video. (I have 90 days to send it in.) I am confident that I will do it but I am no longer cocky. My spirit feels lighter, and happier now. My stress has all but vanished. I hope I can hold onto or get back to this feeling when I need to. It seems to be a really wonderful place for creativity in my art.

My boys and my husband were very proud of me. More expressive than I thought they would be. As I put my small son to bed last night he asked what I had learned at my class. I told him I learned that good instructors and healthy people come in all shapes and sizes. I learned that I have to push myself when I am tired. I learned that I feel successful when I do push myself physically. I learned that I am healthy and fit and that I want to help others feel that way. I learned, I told him, that I have a lot to learn.

You can help me relieve stress!

2005-09-13T06:34:00.000-04:00

My coordination of the Fall Folio Feast has got me up at night. The portfolio showcase event is three and a half weeks away. I had dreams about not having a place, having an outdoor place and having it rain, having no one show up, having the principal of my son’s school catch me being disorganized (He was very disappointed in me. Yikes.) None of this is true ofcourse. The event is going to be at the Whitney Artworks Gallery where there is no need for a plan B incase of rain. We have positive responses from about 15 art buyers and 20 illustrators. I’ll be glad when it is done. This is your chance to reduce my stress and anxiety. Tell five illustrators you know in the New England area about this event and make them sign up. There don't we feel better already?

Competitive sports

2005-09-12T06:52:00.000-04:00

Saturday was the first day of soccer for my six and a half year old. I spent a lot of time talking about how playing hard and having fun is most important. This is a philosophy of the soccer league as well and I was happy to hear many a parent reminding their child that the important thing was to have fun. My son, however, is very competitive by nature. Even though the coaches do not keep score during the games Isaac knows the score and who made what goal how. It happened that he made the only goal of the game and when time was up he ran to the side saying, "We won." "But the most important thing is that you were having a great time!" I say. "Right," he said (rolling his eyes at the party-line) "but when we play Josh's team we're gonna whip their butts." Oh,well.

2005-09-07T20:36:00.000-04:00

Labor Day Morning

Labor Day morning

dawns

crisp and cold

as if to say,

"That’s it.

Summer is gone.

Winter is

fast approaching."

There is no time

to tarry or play.

Gardens must be put to bed.

Shelves and closets cleaned.

Old things mended or thrown away.

And yet,

I long for

A drive up the coast.

Antiquing on route one.

A hot drink in Camden.

Soup in Wiscassett.

The late summer light

playing on the water.

And you.

September 5, 2005

2005-09-01T21:27:00.000-04:00

We had a great Maine Illustrators' Collective meeting last night. The Fall Folio Feast is coming along. We are featured in this month's Portcity Life in the Notebook section. Note: The website is wrong (Should be .org. Click the correct link below.) Art buyers from design, web, tv, children's publishing, and magazines have confirmed their attendance. The postcards for illustrators are going out by the end of next week. We looked at various designs and ideas for promotion last night. Postcards were the most talked about method but also tearsheets, booklets, cd roms, and other creative promo ideas. Illustrators--get those portfolios together and sign up today! Go to the Maine Illustrators' Collective website for more info. Now we are talking about stuff like tables and yummy food for the event. Don't miss it.

A new member joined us. Hi Fulton! I learned a lot from his portfolio about how much photoshop can do. I have a lot of messin' around to try.

First day of first grade for my oldest boy. A very happy, hungry, and tired boy got off the bus today. (Kindergarten was half day.) I'll need to have some serious high protien snacks ready for this kiddo.

WAHOO!

2005-08-26T16:35:00.000-04:00

Highlights is purchasing my pre-school fingerplay "Pigs of Summer." I got the contract in the mail today. Poems don't make a living but they certainly make me happy: Once when I write it, once when I sell it, and whenever I read them to children. My husband is happy that I've sold something to. He hopes I'll stop moping around the house for a while.

Everyone says that poetry is the foundation of all good writing. It is interesting that I've sold three poems but not longer manuscripts. To ponder: How I can keep my poetry word sense when I'm telling a longer story?

You've got to spend money to make money

2005-08-24T08:14:00.000-04:00

I just got my new emac and Wacom Tablet. The computer was second hand and the tablet refurbished by the company so I saved some money but you know what they say... You've got to spend money to make money. I just set it up and have been playing with corel paint. Trying to decide if I'm a draw by hand, paint by computer person or a everything digital person. I'm also trying to understand the sensitivity of the tablet. I feel as if I have to push to make the line so I'm working on that. It seems that the fill tool in corel is similar to photoshop in that you have to be careful to close all of the space before you fill. I love the tablet feature that you can turn over the stylus to erase. So cool. I also finally bought a digital camera. Which I love already. I'd been researching and taking photoshop and digital photography so I feel good about my choice, the Nikon coolpix.

Tonight I have a writer's meeting. So I'm thinking about what I can bring. So many ideas and not enough time to complete everything. One week until my first grader starts school. Full day! I'm looking forward to that. My younger son will be in pre-school five days if I can sign him up for the extra two days. Never thought about this until a friend said she had signed up for MWF and the TTh sessions. Brilliant!

I am sending in my poster for the cherry blossom contest today. Manuscripts are at publishers. Lot's of ideas. Fall Folio Feast art directors need follow up calls. My health is good again after Zithromax and I'm back to exercising. Feels great.

Productive artist seeks nap

2005-08-11T03:45:00.000-04:00

So this three in the morning medicine thing is actually making me pretty productive. Last night I worked on games and mazes for the magazine market. Yesterday during the normal sunshine hours, I mailed out Our Regular Bus and packet of poems to Spider magazine. I also sent Pre-school Jumble out to Wordsong. I'm working through the to do list and that feels great. If I could just be assured a nice long nap after lunch I'd be okay.

I was listening to the writer's almanac with Garrison Keilor on NPR the other day when he mentioned Phillip Larkin a poet and librarian. " In 1966, he wrote in a letter, "I feel I am landed on my 45th year as if washed up on a rock, not knowing how I got here or ever had a chance of being anywhere else... Anyone would think I was Tolstoy, the value I put on writing, but it hasn't amounted to much."

I would never compare myself to Tolstoy but I definetly have the feeling sometimes that my efforts are all for naught. I am thankful for a husband who helps me support my habit. I suppose he believes in me. I know my parents do. I believe in me too. (Until the rejection cycle starts again.) I know that I am submitting in the right market. The rejections are getting kinder and friendlier. I'm just ready for the acceptance. Sometimes I wonder about taking an Institute of Children's Literature class for $600 or going to art school (which I do believe I will do at some point.) Last June, when I quit teaching, I thought I'd have at least one writing or illustration acceptance by the end of this year. That gives me until December. I sure hope I meet that goal. Perhaps I should give myself until my "45th" like Phillip Larkin.

Poster contest

2005-08-10T09:04:00.000-04:00

I know I keep mentioning this Cherry Blossom Poster Contest but I haven't really said anything about the work I'm doing. (I would scan it in but it is too big and I'd have to stitch it together in Photoshop.) The background is a wash of sky blue to white to pale pink. I have cut delicate black and pink cherry blossoms from paper and they are floating on this background from upper left to lower right, some float off of the page. The bottom right hand quadrant is dominated by a black paper cut out image of the stone peace lantern that is lit for the festival. That is it.

I can not explain how I have pained over the placement of these darn flowers. Every day (it seems) I call my wonderful husband in and ask him what he thinks. He is pretty good about telling me honestly and I'm okay at thinking about what he says. However, after a three in the morning session with this thing yesterday, I pulled him into my studio and he started critiqueing. I about bit his nose off. I guess that when I really don't want to hear what anyone else says I'm ready to call it mine. I realized then that I was done.

Proud of my new realization I glued on all the pieces. Not so easy. The flowers are so lacey that they easily bend and buckle. There are a few dots of glue that I can't get off the background. Then I went to trim the edges and my square slipped. The error was fixable but I was so angry that after all my work I would do something so amateurish. I think I will put some foam tape on the back of my square so it won't slip.

At this point I just want to send the thing in. I do not think I'll win but it was a good experience. My parents are visiting this weekend and I'll show it to them before I package it up. I guess I'll have to listen to their critique. (smile)