Archive for August, 2009

MIDDLE OF THE WEEK

Wednesday, 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

Sunday, 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.

STORYTELLIN’ ADVENTURES with MARY JO

Friday, 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.