I'm writing a book for Carson Dellosa!

I am so excited today! I did a freelance content review for Carson Dellosa last November. I had sent them a proposal that was ultimately rejected but was offered to do a freelance content review for a possible manuscript that they were considering on publishing. I liked doing the review and hoped to hear from them in the future for other freelance projects. Unfortunately, I hadn't heard from the since, until today! This morning, I received an email from Carson Dellosa asking me if I was interested in writing a book for them! You can imagine my surprise! I wanted to write back and say, "YES! YES! YES!" But I took a deep breath and sent a more controlled reply. I can't go into much detail about my book right now. It is for the k-1 age group, which is in my favorite "early childhood" group. I have a tight deadline but I know I can do it. I am a full time preschool teacher in a public school so that means all of my extra time at home I will have a laptop stuck to my lap. But, that's ok. I am very excited about this project. Being an Early Childhood Teacher, I have always loved the books and learning materials that Carson Dellosa offers to teachers/parents. It was always a goal of mine to get published by them. This is definitely a good day. When I can post more about the title of the book and when it will be available, I will. Until then. . . .it's time to get busy writing!!!

Lenox Drinks of the Season Blogging Contest

I am entering a blogging contest with Lenox and Twittermoms. I am blogging about my favorite drink of the Christmas season.
My favorite drink is: Poinsettia Mimosas I found this recipie a few years ago and thought it was great. Here's how you make it:

Poinsettia Mimosas
Ingredients

* 3 or 4 tangerines (optional)
* Maraschino cherries (optional)
* 3 cups cranberry juice, chilled
* 1/4 cup Triple Sec, other orange liqueur, or orange juice
* 2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice or grenadine syrup
* 1 750-milliliter bottle champagne or sparkling apple juice, or one 32-ounce bottle carbonated water or lemon-lime carbonated beverage, chilled

Directions

1. If using tangerines, use a vegetable peeler or a thin sharp knife to thinly peel the tangerines (refrigerate fruit for another use). Trim peel to form about 6-inch-long spirals. Place a tangerine spiral in each chilled champagne glass, or set spirals aside to add to the rims. If desired, place 1 or 2 maraschino cherries in each glass.

2. In a glass pitcher, combine cranberry juice, Triple Sec, and maraschino cherry juice.

3. For each serving, pour about 1/4 cup cranberry juice mixture into each champagne glass. Add about 1/4 cup champagne, filling glass nearly to the top. Gently stir with an up-and-down motion to mix the drink without destroying the carbonation of the champagne. Makes 12 to 14 (4-ounce) servings.Click here for details

I won!

I just found out that I won a Sketchbook by a wonderful artist Cynthia Narcisi! I follow Cyn's blog and she had a Blog give away. To enter I told her what made me giggle. All you have to do to see what makes me giggle is to scroll down on my Blog until you see the picture of my miniature pinscher, Zoey. She always makes me giggle! In particular, when she sleeps or when she's tired because she sticks her tongue out! Sometimes it sticks out far! I love it! She's so cute and such a one of a kind little dog.
Cyn's sketchbook is called, "This SketchBook Will Make You Giggle". She describes it as: "16 pages of artsy fartsy goodness featuring silly things I've drawn all year." I am very excited and can't wait to get it. Thanks so much Cyn!!
For those of you who aren't following Cyn here is her Blog, be sure to check it out! Cyn's Blog Click Here!

submission tracking

How do you track or keep records of your submissions? In the past, I have just used a word doc to create a table and I kept track of publishers/manuscript/dates/replies. Tonight I did a search online for submission tracking. I found a neat site where you can keep track of your submissions. It creates graphics and organizes your submission information so you can see where you have been sending your manuscripts and where you may want to focus on sending some. I have only messed with it a little tonight. But from what I saw, it seems pretty cool and it is a free site (from what I saw). I registered and recorded my first submission. I am excited to play with it a little more. I guess I will have to send out more submissions so I can add more to it! Let me know if you are familiar with this site and your thoughts on it. Happy writing!
~B The Writers Database(click here)

featured author at round table discussion

Today, I had the pleasure to attend a meeting of Delta Kappa Gamma, which is a professional organization for women teachers. I was invited to be a featured author for their meeting. There were three local authors present. I have to say that I really enjoyed being there and getting the chance to share my writing experiences with the group. The organization's membership consists of both active and retired teachers from a 6 county area. There are about 25 active members.
We had a nice brunch and talked about what inspired our book topic, the first step in publishing our book, and finished with giving any advice to members of the group that may be interested in submitting work.
My first published credit was a personal experience piece in Relate Magazine about seat belt use. I was involved in a serious car accident when I was 18 and I wrote a piece to help educate teen girls the importance of seat belt use. After this round table discussion, I was approached by a member (an active teacher). She was very interested in my personal experience story and asked if I had ever considered talking to teens in schools about it. After we talked she asked if I cared if she spoke to her administration about having me come and speak to their students. How cool is that? We exchanged emails and phone numbers and will be in touch soon.
I've never done anything like that before but I know I could do it. I had often thought about doing something like that in order to help others to not make the same mistake as I did, by not wearing my seat belt. After thinking about this, I have decided to rewrite my personal experience article on seat belts/car accident and turn it into a brand new article. Then try to get it published in a different magazine.
If you ever get the chance to talk at an author event or a round table discussion I encourage you to do it. No matter how small the group is or no matter how many books your have had published or no matter how few. People are interested in your work and want to hear about how you achieved what you have. And it can open new doors.
~B

....trendy, holiday, or traditional stamps....

I am getting ready to send out some submissions and interested author information for educational pubs and I noticed the only postage stamps I have at the moment are "The Simpsons". I have to wonder. Should use those stamps or not on my submissions? In the past, I have wondered that same question. At Christmas time, do you put Christmas related stamps on your submissions? And what would a publisher think about a stamp in February that reads, "I love You"?

I have always caved in and went out and bought traditional USA postage stamps that usually merely contain a US Flag to stick on my submissions but do we really have to do that? Does it really matter? Who knows if the pubs even notice the postage stamps on all the submissions they receive? And maybe, just maybe, a submission with a trendy, or unusual stamp would grab their attention and maybe they would look at your submission as from someone that is unique and willing to be themselves.

What's your opinion?
~B

My little Zoey

My Miniature Pinscher, Zoey is very lovable but I am sure she has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. Here are some "people" symptoms that she has of the disorder:

* Often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming while seated. (fidgeting with paws)
* Having difficulty remaining seated. (lays down but jumps up anytime someone else gets up or walks out of the room)
* Having difficulty awaiting turn in games or group activities( difficulty waiting her turn for treats and food)
* Having difficulty in following instructions. (doesn't listen when asked to stop barking, or to quickly go potty, or . . . )
* Having difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities. (loves to play, but gets distracted and leaves before we've played very long)
* Often shifting from one uncompleted task to another. (she leaves her toys everywhere and never picks them up!)
* Often talking excessively. (barking)
* Often interrupting or intruding on others. (our other dogs)
* Often not listening to what is being said. (doesn't always like to listen to what we have asked her to do. She will look away when we are having a discussion with her)
* Often forgetting things necessary for tasks or activities. (takes her toys outside and forgets to bring them back in)
* Often engaging in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences. (running too far in the yard, running to the woods, darting outside)
* Being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli. (going outside to potty and getting distracted by everything before she gets her "job" done. It can take 15 mins for her to potty)

Of course this is all in fun and I don't even know if dogs can suffer from ADHD or not and I'm not making light of the disorder. But regardless, little miss Zoey is a piece of work and is one of a kind. But we wouldn't have her any other way! I love you Zoey!