The "In Just Spring" Contest

Susanna Leonard Hill has challenged her blog followers to write a children's story, in 350 words or less, about something that really says "spring" to us. Then, we post it on our blog, link it on her site and her readers will vote on their favorite.  The winner will have one of their picture book manuscripts read by Laura Galvin of KidsBooks! 

Spring used to be an exciting time for me - I hate the cold!  But, since having dogs, I find myself wishing the cold weather would last a little bit longer, so we wouldn't have the mud to contend with.  So, that's what really says "spring" to me - MUD!  

When you're finished reading my story, head over to Susanna's blog and read the others - there are some really great stories!!

Tell-Tail Signs of Spring

Winter brings both cold and snow.

Still, I’m sad to see it go.
 
Once the frozen ground warms up,

life gets messy, with a pup.
 
He’ll come bounding through the door.
Muddy paws across the floor.

Black dots splattered on the walls.

Murky puddles down the halls.

Up the stairs and down again.

Paw prints leading to the den.

On the couch, then quickly off.

Stops for munchies at his trough.

On the bed that’s not yet made.

Gives a shake.  The sheets get sprayed.

Dog-shaped mud begins to dry,

Like a scene from CSI!

Try to wipe him - no such luck.

He starts wagging.  Better duck!

Just like clockwork, every year,

Tell-tail signs that spring is here!

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March Madness Poetry 2013: Round - 1 Flight 1

I am thrilled to announce I am participating in Ed DeCaria's March Madness Poetry 2013: "an event designed to bring the excitement of the NCAA March Madness tournament to the world of kids’ poetry. 64 poets from around the world participate in the event; together, these poets write 126 new kids’ poems in just 21 days: IT’S MADNESS!"  

Last year, I discovered this awesome competition after it had already begun and have been waiting 12 long months to get a chance to be one of Ed's Authletes!

You can read the rules of the game here.

There are 64 amazing authletes playing, take a look at the brackets:

I was given my first word at 8:00 pm Monday night and I had 36 hours to complete it.  My poem, along with my opponent's, Mary Lee Hahn, will be posted at 8:00 am this morning. Once they are posted, the voting is open and, at the end of the voting time (one day), the authlete with the most votes moves on to Round 2!   I plan to post my poems for as long as I remain in the competition (this could be my one and only post, but I hope not).  

Now, without further ado, here is my poem for the word Claque:

A CLAQUE, BY ANY OTHER SPELLING

Clickety clack, along the track.  This poem will sure be easy!
What - not clack?  You spell it claque? Oh, now I’m feeling queasy!

Claque's a word I’ve never heard.  I need to check it out!
To quote Roget: “a group they pay, to clap and cheer and shout”.

I surely can’t have sycophants selecting mine for money.
I’d rather they would smile and say, “I picked it ‘cause it’s funny!”

**(of course, after reading it again here, I realized I should have made the first line of the third stanza: "I surely can't have sycophants select my poem for money." - so frustrating!!)  If I'm lucky enough to make it to the next round, I'll hold on to it a little longer to catch things like that!)

So, if you have the time and inclination, head over to Think Kid Think and vote!  May the best authlete win!!

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I'm an Oxymoron - Emphasis on Moron!

Yesterday, I was beating myself up for being too chicken to share my book trailer with ten people and today, I'm asking an unknown number of people (more than ten, that's for sure) to go to No Water River, Renee LaTulippe's amazing blog, to watch me read a poem I wrote!  Anyone with half a brain would surely think that the first would be much less frightening than the second - right?  Thus the post title :-)

I discovered No Water River during Poetry month and have been a huge fan ever since!  So, when Renee emailed, asking if I would do a video poem, I agreed immediately.  It wasn't until I actually thought it through that I realized what I had committed to!  I couldn't back out on my promise, so I bit the bullet and did it.  


Of course, I waited until the last minute to make the video - the day before I needed to submit it.  I did my first take and OMG was I overly animated!  I was embarrassed watching it by myself.  I did a second take and I was just a drop more animated than the wall.  If this were The Three Bears, I'd say the third and final take was just right.  Sadly, this is not a fairy tale so, the video I submitted is somewhere between manic looney tune and zombie (minus the rotting flesh). 

                  

So, with all the confidence I can muster - and with no regrets - I'm inviting you to watch my video and read my interview at No Water River.  While you're over there, check out the other poets reading their work - they're terrific!

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Poetry Month Mash-Up: Day Twenty-Two

Before I tell you about today's A to Z Poetry Challenge, I wanted to remind you of a post I wrote on April 22, about three causes I feel are worth your attention.  If you haven't already read it, you can link to it here.  

Also, check out today's guest on Rena's blog, Renee LaTulippe, the host of the wonderful blog No Water River, on which she features videos of poets reading their poems!

Now on to today's challenge: Write a poem about a vampire.  Here it is:

V is for Vampire

I fly in the air

It's blood that I drink

I'm a mosquito

What did you think?

I stay up all night.

I sleep in the day.

I am an owl.

Who, did you say?

I've got two fangs

I like to lie low

I am a snake

Didn't you know?

Put them together

and what will you get

A vampire of course

You guessed that - I bet!

Here's how to sign VAMPIRE:

Here's how to sign VIDEO:

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