Making it work

BULLETIN: I’m very happy to announce that Gregory K. Pincus just posted me today as one of his 30 poets in 30 days feature. Thank you, Greg! For those interested, the link is http://gottabook.blogspot.com

Hi everyone,

Not much to report this chilly Sunday morning. I slept in a little; hope to make a couple of videos later today for teachers and librarians. I’ve set out CRAWLY SCHOOL FOR BUGS (Boyds Mills & Kane) and A PLACE TO START A FAMILY (Charlesbridge). Maybe this time the light will be good in some other room in the house other than the guest bathroom where I had to sit last time.

Now that Missouri is under a stay at home rule and we’re being told to wear masks when we go for groceries, Sandy and I need to get masks. I’ve seen examples on TV of how to make them. This morning I’ll check Google to see what might be available to order.

Yesterday I received a copy of the April issue of “Literary License,” the publication of The Society of Midland Authors. This one includes pictures with quotes of three of us in the 12-state midland region about how we are “moving forward on (our) book projects amid the COVID-19 social distancing.” The other two authors are Margaret McMullan and Cynthia Clampitt. The picture I’ve posted today is a favorite and was taken in Chicago at the annual awards dinner of The Society of Midland Authors in 2017. That year NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON’T (Charlesbridge) was chosen by the society as the best nonfiction book of the year for children. Sandy, Robin, and Jeff were all there. Jeff took the picture and you can see part of Robin behind me. It was a wonderful occasion.

And I feel fine

Hi everyone,

Just got home a few minutes ago. Chicago was a great experience as usual. Robin and Jeff joined us and in the little time we had we managed to visit the Planetarium on Monday, the Field Natural History Museum on Tuesday, and the Art Museum today before heading to the airport.

The purpose of the trip of course was for me to accept an award from The Society of Midland Authors for the best nonfiction children’s book by a midland author in 2016. It was a swell party and I’ll report on it through a blog posted soon by my publisher for the book, Charlesbridge Press. As soon as they post it I’ll share it. For now, here’s the building from street level. And here is the view from the 22nd floor where the event took place. Here is a summary board of past recipients.
And here I am standing in front of a board showing this year’s winner. That’s me smiling. This year’s winners were recognized in six categories: Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Adult Biography and Memoir, Adult Poetry, Children’s Fiction, and Children’s Nonfiction. In each case there were two or three honorees. I’ll do better in the upcoming post for Charlesbridge. Right now I’m still pretty pumped.