January 11th, 2010
FLORIDA is supposed to be warm in January not 28 degrees. . Waiting for the sun to thaw out the south. Prayers for the farmers and their families as they determine the damage to their crops. We will find out the extent of the damage at the cash register.
Today I pushed the SEND button on several projects and now it is a wait and see world. Enjoyed the holidays with family. Each little smile, hug and I love you makes the new year so important.
No new resolutions………..watch the web site www.storytellin.com for new STORYTELLLING adventures. This is the year for my 50th class reunion and we have been planning for a long time. It sounds like a long time ago but the memories are as vivid as if it were yesterday. We have grown as adults but there is still a teenager inside of each one of us and when the music begins we can all still do the funky chicken, stretch a stroll or do the twist. I am sure the twist would put a few of us in the chiropractors office the next day.
Find time today to give a hug, sing a song, recite a poem and tell a story………times-a-wastn’.
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December 28th, 2009
As the year of 2009 ends it is good to look back and see if you accomplished the goals set up in Jan. 2009. I personally have moved a couple of the goals up to a 2010 set of goals. Each year I fill out a new calendar and add some goals for the year. I review what I have accomplished and what I want to accomplish in the next 12 months.
Since I am the mother of 3 and the grandmother of 7 my plans are rearranged many times throughout the year. It is a punt and go world.
This has been a great year filled with family, friends and work. Along the way several of my new products have received awards
and been recognized by the Early Childhood world. Appearing as a storyteller at the NAEYC conference in Washington, DC was a highlight in November. I have also signed a contract to write a new resource book for 2010.
Lots of surprises are scheduled for 2010 and hopefully lead to new contacts and some new Keynote work. Check the web site at www.storytellin.com for announcements and specials on storytelling products.
Wishing everyone a BLESSED, SAFE, and HAPPY NEW YEAR@
Mary Jo
Tags: Keynote speaker and traveler, recording artist, Storyteller
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October 20th, 2009
October has passed the half-way mark and this storytellin’ world is busy with SCARY, SCARY STORIES and trainings in Indy, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Moline, IL. Spending time on the road opens the mind to the wonders of nature. Driving through Amish country in Ohio my friend and myself covered 20 miles in 3 hours - SHOPPING. The schools in Dover and New Phildelphia experienced the power of language through my author visit and family night storyteller. The students at these schools were so polite and excited about having fun with stories.
Then it was off to the Chickasaw Nation for a Keynote and breakout for dedicated child care providers. They now know how to move it on down with some Chicken Fun and found the power of puppets for getting children excited.
Being on the road is hard sometimes when you are not home for special events. A young friend lost her husband last week and I was not there. Hotel rooms can be lonely and productive all at the same time. I find writing is easier in a hotel room without dishes, laundry and garage doors going up and down.
Tell someone a Scary Story as the leaves fall from the trees, the sun disappears early in the day and the wind begins to whistle ……. and before the turkey trotts….
I will be Keynoting the Tennessee Reading Conference in Murfreesboro, TN and then packing for a fast trip to Washington, DC for NAEYC.
Tags: Keynote, NAEYC, Scary Stories, Travel
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September 27th, 2009
“STORYTELLING FOR KIDS!” my newest CD has been awarded a NAPPA GOLD and is the CD of the YEAR with CREATIVE CHILD magazine. This is a really big, big, big honor. This CD is just good stories for children to listen to and to learn to retell.
This week the new DVD - “STORYTELLING - TIPS, TOOLS, & TECHNIQUES arrived at the warehouse and was a sell out at the librarians conference in Tennessee. It is good for all teachers, professors of liturature classes and anyone who wants to be a good storyteller.
Being on the road this time of the year is the best. The leaves are changing and the air is brisk. Just returned from two exciting days in Mufreesboro, TN with the Tennessee librarians. This group is excited about telling stories and connecting with kids. Got back to town just in time to tell a WHOPPER at the Newburgh Fiddler Fest - on the Ohio River. This is a small town event but so much fun.
2ND Place in Big Whopper Contest
A special puppet workshop at the Indianapolis Central library had me using voices I did not know I had. These librarians can now go back with the kids and introduce many new characters. I know they are having fun.
SHINING STARS……..The highlight of my week was the two days spent at Audubon Park in Henderson, KY with the Special Needs community. Every story was a connector and the joy was contagious. Everyone who worked on this project and everyone who attended had a wonderful time listening to stories, interacting with the musician, making dragonfly shirts, blowing bubbles and visiting the bird santuary. Life was really good for everyone.
Mary Jo travels to Indy for a Keynote and then to I U for the Ohio State football game. For those who don’t know me I am a huge football mama………….we had a bad situation at Michigan last week so I hope that revs us up for this big game at Bloomington. Going with my two youngest grandsons 16 months and 31/2 years old………….what fun. The following week I am off to the east side of Ohio, then Oklahoma, Texas and Illinois. A busy October.
If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.” ~~ Chinese proverb
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August 19th, 2009
What a whirlwind couple of weeks and now home in the office sifting through piles of paper. The trash baskets are filled and I realize if I stayed home to answer the phone I would fill up the calendar. Today was so productive, contracts signed, dates marked off for 2010 and new ideas spilling over…….but the old ideas need some harnessing.
The girls in Carterville, IL were such fun and I know they learned a lot………they even experienced the Brementown Musicians an old tale with a new little twist. The Michigan conferences were the best with such exciting teachers and administrators. The St. Louis public schools will never be the same…….we rocked the unairconditioned middle school and they left with new, fun ideas to use right away with their children.
Driving to West Virginia next week for two days of training in the beautiful mountains. I am excited to be rolling on my own wheels and not flying.
My travels and adventures are exciting and it is also exciting to sit at my kitchen table and watch the finch as they deplete the center of my sunflowers. It is a true connection with Mohter Nature.
Contract signed for new CD which will be out in 2010………YEA! This one is filled with stuff we did for so many years at Kinder Kountry Pre-School with over 115 children each year. Adults today, but my pre-schoolers in days gone by, tell me that they sing these songs to their own kids so now is the time to get them recorded.
Until the road trip next week have a save and productive end of this week. Mary Jo
Tags: CD, special people, travels, trips, workshop
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August 9th, 2009
SCBWI - August 9, 2009
Today is my last day in Beverly Hills, CA where I am attending the SCBWI (Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). The big bird will lift me back towards Indiana early, early and I mean early in the a.m.
This conference is one of the best I have ever attended. The speakers were professional and delivered their message with a passion. Listening to Richard Peck today was a dream experience. Agents and editors shared their expertise and thoughts about the publishing world. My mission is to do the best writing I can do and to submit a picture book.
I think my background of 35 years in the Early Childhood field will guide me in the right direction. We were told to read, read, read. I own over 2000 books and will go back to Indiana and pull book aoff the shelves that I have read and I will reread. Each minute of each day is precious and writing from the heart can move me forward into the world of children’s literature.
Tags: Agents, CONFERENCE, Editors, Illustrators, SCBWI, Writers
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August 7th, 2009
MY FIRST BLOG
This may be short and sweet because I just figured out how to start a blog. I intend to share my adventures from conference to conference, school to school and library to library. Sharing language and building literacy is a passion I have spent a lifetime sharing. Supporting the Arts-in-Education programs across this country is such a pleasure for this storyteller.
After 35 + years as an Early Childhood Educator I know what works and what does not work with young children. They are special, wonderful, inquisitive, sharing, hugging flowers in our vast garden of life.
Stories and songs fill my head day and night and that is why I have recorded three award winning CDs and a DVD - “Fairy Tales, Fantasy, and Storytellin’ Fun!” The DVD has been awarded the Kid’s First, Dove and NAPPA awards. It was filmed at my local library with a backdrop created with stained glass…………check out the trailer on my web site and enjoy the fun.
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
On Thursday I hopped a plane and flew to LAX, took a shuttle to a wonderful hotel in Beverly Hills, CA for the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). There are over 900 in attendance and the rooms are filled with information and wonderful people from all parts of the world. This was an area I had no knowledge of but WOW my head is filled with words, words, words and ideas, ideas, ideas!
Working on how to add pictures to this BLOG……….need to find someone who can give me directions.
Early in LA but late in Indiana so I am staying on Indiana time for the next few days. Back home on Monday then off to St. Louis and up to Michigan. Updates on SCBWI later.
Tags: Children, Language, Literacy, Songs, Stories, Storyteller
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