I’ve been thinking…

…about GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!

Yes, all in caps because going to school is a BIG deal!

Certainly, for parents and little ones, going to kindergarten is a major life moment.

Today Cara Goes to Kindergarten was inspired by the actual story of my oldest granddaughter’s first day of “real” school. The whole family was excited! We all had followed the preparation leading up to Cara going to kindergarten! My teacher soul was especially stirred as they shared their stories…

I’ve been thinking…

…how grateful I am to my young readers.

It is nerve-wracking asking for feedback on creative projects. We want honest critiques that help hone the result. But we yearn for the “way to go!” to bolster our efforts.

Several young readers were particularly encouraging that Little Children, BIG Feelings was worthwhile. I am forever grateful to my dear friends Cindy and Matt for sending a videotape of young AJ listening to his mama read a draft of the book. He was genuinely intrigued by the story and the balloons. And at the end, he made my heart smile with the precious words, “Read it again, Mama!”…

I’ve been thinking…

…about golf, particularly since one of the young grands asked me, “Noanie, why do you like to golf so much?”

Actually, I LOVE to golf. But it is such a frustrating game. “Golf” and “putt” are four-letter words!

I am just an average golfer. Like IQ scores, 100 is a median mark. With each round, my goal is to “break 100.” Nothing stellar about that. Yet I love the game. I love courses that are away from the world — all open land and big skies. Like Arnold Palmer’s beautiful course that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean in County Kerry, Ireland…

I’ve been thinking…

…about a special little film called Le Ballon Rouge — The Red Balloon. It premiered in 1956 and is still the only short film to win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

I loved that film. I first watched it with my class of high school seniors at St. Anthony High School. Specifics are fuzzy – this was, after all, almost a half-century ago! My students were in the vocational program. They took the required English, History, Physical Ed, and Religion classes in the morning and then went to the local vo-tech school in the afternoon for training in careers that keep our world going – heating and air conditioning, car repair, cosmetology, etc.

I’ve been thinking…

…. A LOT about what I have learned about writing books.

The word that captures this experience is “PROCESS!” Writing a book is only the first step in a very long process towards seeing that book in print.

The other big realization is that every step of that process involves a person with a unique talent that brings the process to fruition.

I had no thought - ever – that I would write children’s books. But age and grandparenting certainly change perspectives. What a surprise to have ideas emerge and then demand attention. I complied, and “books” were written and saved in computer files.

But now what? I knew I needed an illustrator – that is certainly not my bailiwick. And how to find a publisher? Do I need an agent?

… how grateful I am to have this opportunity to share ideas with old and new friends. And I am rather amazed that I have a blog!