I'm On TV!!

There are many ways I could intro this piece, but I'm going to leave it simple. As I mentioned on Friday, there was a reason I wasn't around to blog during Cruising Altitudes fabulous Deja Vu Blogfest.

Most of you know that I entered the Meegenuis Picture Book contest. I'm not a big fan of writing contests via public vote, because they feel more like popularity contests than writing ones; however, when I discovered that one of the main prizes would be the entire Meegenuis Library donated to my local elementary school I just had to enter. Though the contest is over and I didn't make it into the top five, I ended up in the 32nd slot out of 300 other writers. Not bad for a little girl from a small northern town.

What this contest has brought me is just as valuable. The outpouring of support for me and my teeny picture book manuscript has been amazing. I am confident, now, that this story will find a published home. I want to thank all of YOU who voted and have shared encouraging comments with me. Participating in this contest has also enriched my pageant experience. I was interviewed about the pageant and my book via internet TV in between periods at one of my two oldest sons' hockey games. I've also been asked to speak about writing at three different schools in Maine.

This all led me to Friday and the reason I wasn't able to blog. I had to travel an hour and a half from my home to one of Maine's television stations - a FOX station. There, I was interviewed live-on air about my picture book, the contest, and my candidacy for Mrs. Maine 2012. The experience was surreal yet amazing. I guess I'll let you be the judge of that, though. Feel free to pass on watching my clip. I've yet to watch it. *shivers*  

So much for simple.

Shopping For A Pageant Dress Is Like A Writer's Diction

Back by popular demand, I'm bringing you another Edition of Monday Munchies ~ 5 thought provoking tabs you can ponder throughout the week and use to inspire your writing. Or you can use them to just make you laugh.

1) Participating in PiBoIdMo has really fueled my creative juices, only not always in the most appropriate way. Man, has my mind taken left turns and muscled in the backseat all week. Try using an 'inappropriate' idea at the most inopportune time for one of your characters. (Of course, keep it tasteful, please.) This sort of ingredient could also add spice during a scene, which would otherwise have been run-of-the-mill.


2) Yesterday, the hubs and I took the four chicklets to our local park for family pictures. And yes, we took dah' pooch. Tell me what image first came to your mind when I mentioned that we'd brought the dog. Go with it. Add it to one of your scenes. BE DARING.


3) For those of you who are history buffs, said park above is actually a historical park. Yup, can you believe it even in Maine. Fort Halifax Park is a small, quaint grassy area outlining the Kennebec River. It houses the only piece of the original Fort Halifax left for visitors to see. But it has a HUGE history attached to it. Try deepening the backstory of some element in your current story.


4) Friday, my daughter and I ventured through two states on a journey to find me the perfect pageant dress. Well, the pageant dress that was perfect for me. We found two, and came home with none. Search your current story and add a disappointment to a scene or character. See where it takes you.


I could tell you what's going on with the dress, but that's for a progress report day, which I'll be doing tomorrow!! And I'll also explain the connection between 'diction' and shopping. Hope you find these munchies useful. Until tomorrow....

The Author & a Pageant

So, I've got some news.

When I made the decision three years ago to write seriously I had no idea where that would lead me. And just like most of you, I learned quickly that writing is a journey of confidence and great joy, but also potholes and blindsiding twists.

To learn the craft, one of my many methods was to surround myself with like-minded folks--people who work hard and give of themselves on a daily basis, and yes, writers: some of the most selfless and supportive individuals I've ever known.

 
Back in May, I was contacted by a consultant for the Mrs. Maine America 2012 Pageant and asked to compete for this year's title. I'll admit, initially I blew the idea off, needing to completely rewrite Marked Beauty and to spend time with my four kids throughout the summer. However, after seeking the advice of others and chatting with Christie--the consultant who's fabulous, BTW--I've recently decided to compete. And I could use your help.

Your support would mean the world to me. Of course, a friendly Go get'em girl will warm my heart. I will so appreciate and need those. But the pageant is also quite costly. As you can see, I've added a widget to my right sidebar. If you'd like to help sponsor me that would be amazing!! Any donation would help.

But that's not all. Recently, a beloved teacher in my area passed away. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer late this summer. I had him as a teacher in school, and he was also the father to one of my friends and classmates. In his honor, our local high school and a group of students have created a scholarship fund to be awarded to a senior, pursuing an education in chemistry or field of science. I've written a newspaper article free of charge in support of this effort, which was release yesterday in one newspaper and will be reprinted in others. I've decided that any monies I raise above and beyond my pageant expenses will be donated to this scholarship fund, helping to support the scholarship and also raise awareness of esophageal cancer.

I've linked the article to my paypal widget as well as above. I hope you'll read it. Not so much for me, but for this amazing teacher the world lost a few weeks ago. He had a 43-year career doing what he loved to do. My hope is that we all can learn to live our lives that way.

Pageants carry a stigma. Don't deny it; you know it's true. By participating in this pageant, I'm hoping to shed new light on pageantry and all the lessons it can teach and opportunities it can lend. (Just as former Miss Maine Ashley Underwood did when she took the challenge of being a cast member of the hit show Survivor last season.) The Mrs. America Organization has been running for 35 years. Over those years, its title holders have done countless works of charity. Their focus is on a woman's accomplishments--what she's done with her life and how she's lived it. I believe that's an important element of life, and in today's society, it's a priceless example.

My other goals are easy:

• to share the experience and wisdom I've gained through my almost 20-year marriage and the joys and angst of raising four children--yeah, kind of like writing, isn't my friends?
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• to share my passion for writing, and the importance of regular reading and writing for children and young adults. They don't have to aspire to be professional writers when they grow up. But reading and writing can be therapeutic and teach the vital skill of dreaming. Think Big - Be Big. We never know where we can go unless we dream it first. Reading and writing can develop other skills such as confidence and the ability to formulate ideas and answers, not to mention the ability to communicate in an articulate manner.  

The pageant will be held sometimes at the end of January or beginning of February. I plan on writing posts, recording my experiences to share with you. I've already had a few--as you can see from the photo shoot photos I've added to this post--so I'll have to backtrack. I've also started a separate Facebook page. Would you please head over and Like it for me?

Thank you in advance for your support!!

Hearts,
S~