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| photo by Mark Morgan |
I interrupt
this blog post for an important announcement!
Recently my agent, Sandy Fergusen Fuller, of Alp Arts
Company, contacted me.
She has sold my picture book, The Bunny Poets to Tannya Derby, publisher at MacLaren-Cochrane.
The book will be released in the fall of 2017!
What, you say? I didn’t know she wrote picture books. I was
inspired to write the book on a whim after attending a poetry reading at the
St. Helena Library. The audience sat facing a podium and a wall of floor to
ceiling windows with a vineyard view. While the poet read, I found myself
distracted by a bunny wandering among the vines.
This is the only detail I will reveal about the book. More
details will come later when we are closer to the release date. And, if I tell
you everything now you won’t buy the book will you?
For those of you who did not know, I had tried (unsuccessfully)
to sell another picture book on my own before seeking an agent. I found Sandy
through the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Sandy,
an agent who writes picture books herself, helps authors develop their ideas if
needed. Luckily, she liked the concept of that first book and helped me by
offering to agent it.
In the meantime, I had studied a bit myself about picture books,
and am also lucky enough to have a critique group for support. When my bunny
book concept came along I sent it to her. So, I’m hopping up and down here with
the news.
Thank you Tannya Derby! And thank you Sandy Fuller!
Now back to
my regular series programming!
For newcomers to my blog, I’d like to explain what it is
about. My husband and I have raised two sons. Our eldest son, Chase, was
diagnosed with mild autism. This has affected our family in many ways. My
stories reflect our struggles, but also celebrate our successes. Chase is now a
sensitive, thoughtful, and kind man. He is honest, hardworking, and physically
fit.
My intention is to collect all of these stories and combine
them into a book. Ultimately, I am hoping to help parents and caregivers see
that once they get through the struggles of raising a child like Chase with a disability
they will come to realize its gift.
