From a Small Burrow

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:23:46 GMT

I had a quiet afternoon with nothing pressing to do, and so I watched a movie I hadn't seen in a long, long time... The King and I. If you haven't seen it in a while, watch it. If you've never seen it, definitely watch it! As I turned the TV off after the movie, with a few emotional lumps in my throat, I got to thinking about the whole lovely thing. Why did it hit me in such an emotional way? I'd seen the movie before. I knew the story. So what caused this stirring of emotions in me?

Some of the scenes were exhilarating, to be sure. ("Shall We Dance?") The characters were a nice blend of stuffy English and demanding Thai king ("Something Wonderful.") If you analyzed the whole thing ... characters, plot, dialog... it was pleasant and entertaining, but enough to draw strongly on the emotions?

Then I got it. It was the music! It was the swelling of violins in just the right places, and the power of the words of the songs. The music was the magic of the movie.

So now I'm asking myself, how do I replicate that in a children's book? How do I put that emotional magic into a read-aloud story without actual music?

Says the king, "It's a puzzlement."

Name Three Things

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:13:22 GMT

Dori Chaconas

Name three things you like about fall.

Mine would be:

The crunch of leaves underfoot.
Cooler days.
The smell of woodsmoke in the air.

What are yours?

Blog Interview!

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:05:20 GMT

I was pleased to answer interview questions for Shari Lyle-Soffe's Out of My Mind blog. In case you want to find out more than you've ever wanted to know about me, check it out!

http://www.sharilyle-soffe.com/

In case you already know me personally, don't check it out. You already know more about me than is advisable.

Intensive Picture Book Workshop

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:19:16 GMT

Last Saturday, Lisa Wheeler gave an all day intensive picture book workshop for WI SCBWI writers, and it was fantastic! So much information, well arranged, and delivered with Lisa's bright warmth and humor. It was a giant learning step in the process of writing a successful picture book story. If your SCBWI region is looking for an excellent and inspirational workshop, you must consider this one!

Here are some photos! Just click on a photo if you'd like to see it enlarged.

Lisa Wheeler

Thanks, Lisa Wheeler, for an amazing day!

Original Art

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:16:30 GMT

I've been fortunate and blessed to get good illustrators for my books and have always wanted to buy at least one piece of original art. And now I've done it! I bought the cover art for Pennies in a Jar from the artist, Ted Lewin. I picked it up from the framer yesterday and we hung it in my office. And I absolutely love it!

Art (c) Ted Lewin

What's Your Story...

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:10:45 GMT

... Morning Glory?

Just a little bit for Thoughtful Thursday.

If I were a flower, I'd probably be a Morning Glory. I'm up with the sun, eager to start the day. I fade in the evening.

What kind of flower are you? Maybe a Four O'Clock, coming awake in the afternoon? Or a daisy, who can bloom 24/7?

It's a Book!

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:37:14 GMT

Baby's Song will be out next month and it's bee-ooo-ti-ful! I just got my copies and am happy to see this baby delivered!

The amazing artist is Deborah Perez-Stable and this is our second book together for Abingdon Press. The book description reads:

A picture book in lyrical rhyme, Baby's Song follows the seasons in a year of baby's life. Mother and child share the joys that each season has to offer and grow in their awareness of the blessings God has given them throughout the year. The tender text is coupled with warm and personable illustrations, and is sure to be enjoyed over and over again for lap-time reading.

Here's a sample page of illustration and text:

Art @ Deborah Perez-Stable 2008

Baby, see the winter snow
Swirling all around,
Covering the house and gate,
Blanketing the ground.
Roll a snowball! Make a snowman!
Pat! Pat! Pat!
God has made the lacy snow
That decorates your hat.
Text @ Dori Chaconas 2008

AND I learned a really cool feature on jmammaywrites blog this morning. If you click on a picture, it'll open to a larger size! Isn't technology amazing!

Daily Photo: Day 7

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:48:48 GMT

I call this my Thinking Bench.

Our subdivision has a central common area with a nice pond. I walk there every day and sit awhile, watching the ducks, trying to focus on story ideas, characters, or plot problems. Sometimes it works. And sometimes I simply have a nice walk, a pleasant view, and come home with an empty head.

Thanks, cynthialord, for a week of getting to know LJ friends through their hometown photos!

Daily Photo: Day 6

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:45:21 GMT

This lovely setting is where I meet with my live critique group. It's a coffee/sandwich shop called Fiddleheads, located right on the Milwaukee River. A good place to talk about writing!

Daily Photo: Day 5

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:13:26 GMT

Here's another picture of my back deck, taken from inside the patio doors. This is my vantage point for taking the following photos.

Last year I had a chipmunk who visited the garden cart on a regular basis, stuffing his cheeks with sunflower seeds.

Dori Chaconas

He got used to seeing me at the door with my camera, so I was able to get a lot of good shots.

Baiting the flag dowel with a bit of peanut butter, I was able to get this photo.

Dori Chaconas

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Daily Photo: Day 4

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:00:55 GMT

Wednesday is Farmer's Market Day!

Area farmers bring in produce, plants, flowers, herbs, home baked breads, and much more. It's fun to walk through and see what goodies you can find. YUM!

Daily Photo: Day 3

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:35:49 GMT

Germantown, Wisconsin is the largest village in the state, and is located just outside of Milwaukee.

Old Downtown Germantown

It continues to maintain a rural flavor while offering all the conveniences of a thriving city. The 'old downtown' is located (where else?) on Main Street, and it's nothing more than a collection of quaint houses, a restaurant, a pub, and a year-round Christmas shop. For any serious shopping you need go only a few blocks away.

Daily Photo: Day 2

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:25:46 GMT

My back door~

That's a peach tree in the upper left corner. The last two weeks in August I'll be busy with canning, baking, and freezing peaches!

Last summer we added a covered extension to our back deck. I really do need to find a comfortable writing chair to put out there!

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:26:05 GMT

cynthialord
has started a fun project for LJ friends! Thanks, Cynthia!

Here's a picture of my front door. Come on in for a cup of company!

We can talk about books, and writing, and all manner of fun stuff! I'll even bake fudge brownies.

Welcome!

Absurd Ideas

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:10:44 GMT

Dori Chaconas

If at first the idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it.
~Albert Einstein

What do you think? Does this quote apply to writing for children? Can a story idea be successful if it's not absurd? Have you thrown out a story idea because it was too absurd?

I'm no Einstein.

Just wondering.

We Have A Winner!

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:01:27 GMT

Our honorable judge, Andrea Tompa, editor at Candlewick Press, has read all twelve entries to the Cheesy Poetry Contest and has made her decision! The entries were sent to her, identified by number only, sans the authors' names.

She writes:

"What talented blog readers you have. :-) I had a lot of fun reading them all (though I must admit they made me very hungry!). I had several close contenders for a winner, but ultimately, #11 (Choose Cheese!) was my favorite. I liked its natural, readable rhythm and its unabashed praise of cheese -- and it was probably the rhyming of "food a" with "gouda" that edged it into the lead."

#11 was written by JoAnn Early Macken!

And here it is:

Choose Cheese!

Searching for the perfect food? A

wise choice would be nutty gouda.

For a party, brunch, or tea,

how about a soft, smooth brie?

Tomato soup needs cubes of cheddar.

Cream cheese makes a bagel better.

Then you really ought to try

feta in a spinach pie.

Served with crackers on a plate,

gorgonzola is first rate!

And, indeed, you’ll never miss

with a holey wedge of Swiss.

So if you want a scrumptious treat—

not too subtle, not too sweet—

for casserole, soufflé, or stew,

choose a cheese to chop and chew!

APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!

JoAnn wins a signed copy of a Cork and Fuzz book. Congrats!

My thanks to all who joined the fun and entered. Your poems were wonderful, and I consider you all winners!

Introducing Our Poetry Contest Judge

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:47:36 GMT

CANDLEWICK PRESS

It's my pleasure to announce that the judge for the CHEESY POETRY CONTEST
will be editor Andrea Tompa from Candlewick Press!

We have twelve entries (whoo-whoo!) and I'll send them to Andrea without the authors' names on them. (Of course, if she requests a name or three, I'll be happy to give them to her.) Andrea will be out of the office for a few days, so as soon as she gets back and has a chance to read the poems and select a winner, I'll post a huge YA-WHOOO! on my blog, announcing the winner.

Thanks for playing along, fellow writers, and for being patient just a little while longer.

Cheesy Poetry and a Hint About the Judge

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:27:50 GMT

Check out all the delicious cheesy poetry entries under the June 15th blog. Are these great, or what?!?

The deadline for entries is midnight tonight (Sunday, June 22nd.) It's not too late!

Oh, yes, the hint!

The judge for this contest is a real live editor.

Get a'crackin' and write that poem!

An Authorish Gathering!

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:45:25 GMT

While waiting for all the Cheesy Poetry Contest entries to come in, I want to share this amazing afternoon with you. Seventeen Wisconsin SCBWI children's authors and illustrators gathered for readings and signings at the Martha Merrell Bookstore in Waukesha, WI.

The event was the brainchild of our talented publicity lady, Denice Ryan Martin, who puts in many hours of work (and love) to promote our Wisconsin region of SCBWI.

Denice Ryan Martin

She was given full support by our Regional Advisor, Pam Beres.

Pam Beres

Along with our enthusiastic Co-Regional Advisor, Peggy Tromblay (who's an expert face painter and added to the kids' involvement.)

Peggy Tromblay

The talented authors/illustrators who did readings today were:

Sharon Hart Addy

Janet Halfman

Sandy Hendricks

Kathryn Heling

Deborah Hembrook

Annie Jacobsen

JoAnn Early Macken

Julie Bowe

Kathleen Ernst

Kashmira Sheth

Ann Angel

S. A. (Stephanie) Bodeen

Deborah Lynn Jacobs

And me, Dori Chaconas,
(who took the pictures
but forgot to give the camera
to someone else to take HER
picture, so she's using a stock photo.)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, "Wisconsin is blessed with so many talented writers, and I'm humbled and fortunate to be among them!"

Surprise Judge for the Cheesy Poetry Contest!

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:12:06 GMT

As a follow up to the previous blog post, only four more days to enter the Cheesy Poetry Contest if you haven't done it yet. Honestly, you don't want to miss this one! I have an amazing judge lined up and she's going to read all the entries.

Who is it, you ask?

Nah, nah, nah! I'm not telling yet. I'm keeping this lovely little secret to myself for a couple more days.

Sunday, June 22nd is the last day to enter.

Come on! Get writing and post your entry here!

A Cheesy Contest

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:18:50 GMT

I came across this quote:

"The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." ~G. K. Chesterton

"Aha!" I told myself. "I'll bet there are some poets out there who could write a poem about cheese. "

"You're right," I answered myself. "Let's have a contest and invite Friends to come up with an original poem about that stuff."

And so (drum roll, please!) submission deadline will be next Sunday, June 22! One whole week to think, rhyme, write, and submit, all the while nibbling on your subject for inspiration.

Oops, I almost forgot! The winner will get a signed copy of Cork and Fuzz.

Cheddar, brie, Swiss, and limburger lovers, post your entries here!

New Cover Art!

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 12:07:02 GMT

YAY! I received the advance print out of Cork and Fuzz: Finders Keepers which will be out in the spring. This is the fifth book in the Cork and Fuzz series. (Who knew the book would become a series, and that the series would go to five books!)

The flap copy reads:

Cork is a short muskrat who like to find things.
Fuzz is a tall possum who likes to keep things.
Fuzz finds Cork's lost stone, but he wants to keep it.
But a chipmunk runs off with it.
Who will say "finders keepers" now?
The sweet story and playful illustrations in this fifth Cork and Fuzz
easy-to-read title are sure to delight young readers.

YAY!

Thoughtful Thursday

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:52:05 GMT

Dori Chaconas

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.

~Theodore Hesburgh

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO YOU AND YOURS!

Thoughtful Thursday

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:21:53 GMT

Dori Chaconas

What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

My first drafts always seem to be weeds. I can only hope that I'll work it into something that blossoms.

Thoughtful Thursday

Thu, 29 May 2008 11:16:41 GMT

Dori Chaconas

Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.

~Arthur Koestler