New Project:)

  I love living in beautiful Florida and having a new challenge.  I just received the thumbs up to start writing a nonfiction story about the manatee rehabilitation hospital at Lowry Park Zoo.  Stacy Velasquez, my daughter, will be my sidekick.  She has an amazing eye for photography.  There is nothing more rewarding than spending time with the ones you love, doing the things that you love...
                              Update: 12/31/11
Went to TECO Manatee Viewing Center to take some pictures of Manatees in their natural environment.  The weather was perfect and the manatees were awesome.  I even got to see some babies....adorable!    I can wait to start writing.

Magazine story or picture book?

Recently I pulled out an older manuscript to look at with fresh eyes.  The more I reread the more I began to wonder if my story was actually a magazine story or a picture book.  Then I received my December 2011 issue of  Children's Book Insider,The Newsletter for Children's Writers.
Suzanna Henshon, PhD, wrote an article about this very thing.  Thanks CBI.  I think the manuscript is better suited for a magazine,  now to find the right one. :)

Votes are in!

The final votes are in. With the help of my friends and family, my story, Where The Wild Fern Grows  finished in 29th place out of 398.  I would like to especially say thank you to Jennifer Young.  Jennifer also entered her story, Poison Apple Pie and finished 9th.  The stories that make the final round will be notified by January 31st.  It was a lot of fun!  If you would like to stop by and read our stories, go to the following links.  Again I appreciate all the support!

1.http://www.meegenius.com/challenge/where-the-wild-fern-grows-by-cheryl-velasquez
2.http://www.meegenius.com/challenge/poison-apple-pie-by-jennifer-young