I’m happy with the chameleon, but I think I’ll make a black cat with white details.
children’s book
Kevin the Complainer it is!
The results of my survey are in. I surveyed 90 5th graders and 30 6th graders:
I love using the survey feature in Google Classroom and the students appreciate being able to “vote” on everything from what kind of assessment to complete (quiz, diorama, paper, etc.) to helping me choose my next book title.
Lily
Can this chameleon use anything else? Constructive criticism welcome! She is a character in my next children’s book and she might seem “bland” but she’s supposed to be.
Doing the Deep Work (Part 2)
I’ve Joined…
Creativebug.com.
Since taking a (trial) Lisa Congdon art class in watercolor, I’ve made drawing and painting part of my morning ritual. I don’t know where this will lead me (maybe my second self-published children’s book as author and illustrator?)…but I know I enjoy the process.
Subscription options for Creativebug.com are below:
They offer a multitude of art classes:
When you consider the cost of classes at your neighborhood art academy or fabric store, this is a steal: unlimited classes all month for $8!
At Last…
I’ve published it.
On Amazon.com and a few other outlets, you can now purchase Esther, Mia and the Stars! It will say “Spanish version” but it’s in both English and Spanish, every page.
Esther and Mia are best friends. Esther must come up with a creative solution when she discovers that Mia is being bullied. Together, they overcome this painful event and tell their story in English and Spanish.
It’s imperfect, but it was a labor of love, illustrated by my daughters with a message of empowerment for children who are experiencing bullying.
Thank you to my blogging community! You provided much-needed support and encouragement along the way.
Self-Publishing Update
I finally received my proof for Esther, Mia and The Stars today!
It looks really good. It’s not perfect. But it’s a labor of love and I’m going to publish it. Two illustrations need to be replaced and I have to figure out how to center the ISBN code on the inner cover…but that’s it!
My friend, Sierra, translated the English to Spanish and told me it was a very fun process and that she learned a lot. I felt the same way. The process was extremely satisfying. My daughters loved making the illustrations at first, but then became self-conscious and self-critical. I hope the fact that I encouraged them to complete it will impress upon them the importance of crossing the finish line.
Tying Loose Ends
It’s December 5. We are almost at the finish line of 2016 and I have some loose ends to tie: complete my children’s book and edit my novella (Nanowrimo). These are my writing goals for this month.
Jillian Michaels says, “It’s when you’re uncomfortable that change happens.”
When it comes to writing, I enjoy the research phase. I also love the writing phase where I just throw it onto paper. But when it comes to editing, I get…uncomfortable. All those monkey mind thoughts I fought while writing come back and it prevents me from finishing.
Working out and changing your diet is uncomfortable.
Interviewing for your dream job is uncomfortable.
Making new friends is uncomfortable.
Disconnecting from friends who don’t act like your friends is uncomfortable.
Discomfort leads to change and growth! Who cares about perfection? It’s not important. In fact, it can be your enemy. Finishing is the most important thing.
Writing Update
I’m going to share my update with you in the hopes that you feel camaraderie. Writing can be a lonely experience (albeit a very rewarding one!). I like the solitude and the quiet. It’s actually what I crave right now, after the tornado of politics, media and my husband’s 50th birthday celebrations.
Word Count on my novella:14,176
Goal (approximate): 25,020
Children’s Book: Esther, Mia and the Stars – Spanish translation is done! Scanning of images – 80% complete!
I am strongly considering using Fiverr.com for the Mandarin, Cantonese and French translations.
My mother (I believe) will be very happy to do the Korean translation.
Children’s Book Self-Publishing: Lessons As I Go
My illustrators (daughters, ages 13 and 14) have been busy with homework and violin concerts this week. But I hope they make a lot of progress this weekend:
In the meantime, I am shopping for translators at our school. Fortunately, I have access to a couple Spanish teachers and one Mandarin teacher. I will be asking them today if they’d be interested in doing language translations.
This means I need to create a document with just the text. Currently, I have text and illustrations (or placeholders). Lesson learned: next time, create a text only documents first.
I’m pretty excited about this stage because it adds a lot of value to the book. Adding a language component can expose children to other languages and pique their interest if they’re not already learning Mandarin, Spanish, Korean or French.
Kismet 