What's Up

Hi! Welcome to my blog! I started this a few years ago, but I haven't really used it much, but I'm hoping to change that going forward. So I thought I would write a little post about what I'm currently up to.

For the past 17 months, my number one priority has been my daughter, husband, and home. Once my little one was born, my world completely changed. I left my job as an artist/manager for a big name baby clothes company to become a stay at home mom. It's a decision I will never regret making and it's been an amazing journey so far.

It's very easy to let everyday tick by without taking time for the creative dreamer that's still inside of me. For the longest time, my only creative outlet was looking and pinning art on pinterest and "thinking" about what I could draw and write. Back in November I made a commitment to myself to join in Nanowrimo and write a 50,000 word novel in one month. This year I was determined to follow through. And I did it! Mostly in one hour daily increments while my daughter napped. It was just the kick I needed to boost my confidence to start creating again.

So, what am i up to besides my home life? This:

1. Revision One on Maggie Rose: Monster Hunter, the YA novel I wrote in November.
2. Beginning to build up a portfolio of my own artwork
3. A litte bit of Freelance graphic art work

I welcome anyone who'd like to join me as I embark on these new ventures.

Owl

Penguins

It seemed like a penguin drawing kind of Saturday.

Hello

Well, Hello! It's been forever! Maybe 2015 will be the year I actually do something with this little blog!

Growing Up

Well, here is Kojak now. Still cute, and still a time stealer! And much much bigger.

DISTRACTIONS

Where am I? What's going on? Why am I failing at NaNoWrimo? Why haven't I finished the last round of rewrite's to my MG Fairytale?

He's called KOJAK:

Cute, right? Adorable. Fluffy. Huggable. But SO MUCH WORK! I'm running around behind this puppy ALL day long. He's teething and the best toy to chew on, according to Kojak, is MY arm! Just watch the video below and listen closely for the puppy chompers at work.

On another note, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Tick Tock goes the clock

So, I just looked back at my proudly announced finished manuscript post. Goodness! That was May. And now October is almost over. Seriously? Sigh. The good news is that I'm on the fourth draft. So far my beta readers like it. Yes, I have beta readers! Hi beta readers! I love saying that. Beta readers sounds so official. Anyway, I'm getting mighty antsy to send this manuscript out to agents. I have a couple agents in mind, and one specific lady who is going to get the book first. But, I'm still not sure when. Plus, I have some major holes in the book to patch up before I can really seriously think about diving into the Scary Submission Process. Eeeep!

I haven't given out any info about this top secret novel yet, cause I'm not sure how much to say. But I will say this: I love fairytales and this novel is inspired by a bunch of them. I will henceforth begin calling top secret novel "MiddleGrade Fairytale". The reason I'm getting impatient about sending this book out is due to the fairytale TV shows airing this fall. One of them starts tonight! I'm so nervous about these shows! I don't know if they are going to help or hurt me. Everyone tells me not to worry, but I can't help it. I had hoped to have the Scary Submission Process in the works by the time "Once Upon a Time" aired, but unfortunately the editing process is going slooooooow. Plus, the Corporate Place totally kicked my butt during the month of October. Too many late nights preparing for Big Meetings.

And lastly, NaNoWrimo begins November 1st. I'd like to participate again this year, and maybe even make it to 50,000 words by the end of November. But not at the expense of my MG fairytale. That's the danger of NaNoWrimo. The race to win the challenge can throw everything else to the wayside. Unless I can get MG Fairytale ready first. Hmmm. That's only 8 days. Silly me.