Cheryl Wilson Velasquez shared a link.

A Good Query Letter is Like a Skirt

writeupmylife.com

Andrea Brown, president of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency won the award at the Big Sur in the Rockies workshop for giving the funniest advice on queries: "It should be like a skirt. Long eno...

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Anxiously Waiting!

Tomorrow Laura Backes from Children's Book Insider is critiquing one of my manuscripts.  I am so excited to hear from her.  This is one of my favorite pieces.  Good or bad, I don't care just glad to get a professional opinion.  I have been doing a lot of research for my nonfiction book.  This is a very fun project.  I am even getting my 2nd grade class involved.  We are doing a manatee unit and they want to adopt one of the manatees from the Save A Manatee Club.  They are helping me and they don't even know it.  I am listening to their conversations and the things they are excited about.  These are the things I will definitely put in my book!

New Year , Fresh Start!

Today is January 1st, 2012!  I am not one to make New Year Resolutions because I know myself to well. My intentions are commendable but that is just about as far as it goes.  My motto for 2012 is "New Year -Fresh Start." There are only 4  things I want to accomplish this year.( not in any order)

1. Invest more time on me.

2.Invest more time with my Family

3. Invest more time studying  the Bible.

4. Write something every day.

  I don't want more money,(you can't take it with you),  and don't want more things, (I have too many to keep up with now) If I can do those 4 things, I will be happy! I want  to live this year with no regrets.

                                                Happy New Year !

  

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

I did it!

I finished submitted one of my stories to www.meegenius.com
I will keep everyone updated about when you can go vote.  Thanks Jenny !