That’s right. I’m taking the plunge. November is Picture Book Idea Month. You can participate too by going to http://taralazar.wordpress.com.
Look for the ideas to show up on my blog. We’ll see if I do one each day or have a few bunched up on a day. You know, it’s the ebb and flow thing!
The 2011 Indiana Author Fair was yesterday, October 29, 2011 at the Indianapolis Central Library.
The recipients of the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award were on WFYI, Indianapolis public radio’s program, “No Limits” last Thursday. You can listen to a podcast of Margaret McMullan and on the program’s web site. Both authors have published in the young adult market. Helen also writes for elementary readers. It’s well worth a listen if you are interested in children’s literature and the state of the publishing industry.
You can also see the authors’ web sites at these addresses:
Most days, I love to publish those cartoons. But today, I’m taking a little break in honor of a family member.
Most people either love or hate cats. I’ve never met anyone who straddles the fence on that one. I grew up with farm cats who were required to be spitfires and cunning predators if they were to survive. I didn’t hate them, but I didn’t exactly get warm and fuzzy when I thought about them.
About ten years ago, my five-year old daughter heard a pathetic mew coming from our front yard. She begged me to come with her to investigate. I knew what that sound was and I didn’t want anything to do with it. I was working a temporary job after being laid off. September 11 had happened. It didn’t feel like a good time to have another mouth to feed.
But I was overruled. When my daughter found that little kitten hiding in the wheel well of my car, it was an instant bond. I knew we were going to be cat owners. She named the kitten Emily. When we took her to the vet, we found out she was a he. She announced he would be Andrew.
Andrew became part of our family. He made cat lovers of the most hardened feline intolerant souls. He loved to cuddle up to each one of us. But of course, since he came from the outdoors, he always wanted back outdoors. We tried to make him an indoor cat, but he yearned to be free.
I wanted to wring his neck that first Christmas when he destroyed the tree. I growled at him when I pried a chipmunk from his jaw and had to get a tetanus shot because the little rodent held on to me like I was a sycamore. But for the most part, he was a loving, patient cat. Many friends and family would say how great of a cat he was. A few said they didn’t like cats, but they loved our Andrew.
When we got a dog, I wondered how he would react. For a while, he acted as if he had been dethroned. But he tolerated our new puppy and had developed an understanding with her. We couldn’t have asked for anymore than that.
Yesterday, I found our cat on the front porch. The cunning hunter had become the hunted. We lost a dear family member yesterday. So I suppose you may be able to understand if I don’t want to delve into some mirth today.
But wait a few weeks. You just may see some cartoons in honor of a certain feline with a taste for Christmas trees.
I came across this blog post about creativity and aging.
Mary Sayler: In A Writer’s Life: Artistic, creative people get creative at any age
I agree with her assertion that at any age people can find creative outlets.
It reminded me of my grandfather. He was a minister for over fifty years at the same church. He was sharp as a tack until he retired from the ministry and had no plan for what retirement would look like. He slowly lost his mental acuity and his passion for life.
We all have a calling. Age or retirement is not a reason to abandon your calling. Keep doing what you were born to do.
I’ve seen children’s ministry volunteers who lose their passion once their kids leave the ministry. But some of the greatest volunteers I’ve seen have volunteered way past retirement age. If you have a passion for teaching kids, don’t give up because your child has grown up.
I have a passion for writing and drawing for children. I also have a passion for children’s ministry. I’ve been so glad to have the last week to be able to focus on my calling and realize what a need there is for people with a passion.
What’s your calling? No matter what your age is, make a commitment to do what you were born to do!
I’m switching gears this week. I’m writing a book, and I want to devote my time to that instead of single panel comics.
This morning, I set up a character sheet for my main character. I had been writing about him in my sketchbook and it was time to make something more official.
I already knew the first name of the character, but how do you find a last name? One source I found is a web site called The Name Generator. It’s a good place to brainstorm. They even have an iPhone version. It’s not an app, but a stripped down version of the site.
One thing I like about it is it makes some unusual names. I can change the spelling if I wish, and immediately have a unique name that may allude to the character’s personality.
I’ll continue to update you on my progress and the tools I use.