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7/17/2025

Remember when I talked about a punch to my belly from a few rejections from agents? Well, my belly has been the reason I have not kept up with my goal of writing more frequently on my blog. It is hard to find time to write on a blog when you are recovering from appendicitis and writing a picture book, inspired by your experience. You have heard agents want to know why, YOU, are the one to write your story? All true. Now I want to travel and gain more experiences so that I can write more stories.  

 

Below is a poem I wrote about, time, but I have to say, sometimes when something bad happens, blessings come out of it all. The day after Mother’s Day, 2025, I had appendicitis. The nurse said, “Someone is here to see you.” I opened my eyes, and a multicolored, five-foot-tall, stuffed giraffe was staring at me—a gift from my loving daughter, knowing it would make me smile. My surgeon's name is Dr. Pingpank. So, lo and behold a story was born, which I am already submitting to agents and publishers. I know, it seems so soon to submit a story I wrote a few months ago, but I am telling you, this story is, I believe, my best story yet because I am truly the one to write it. Here is the elevator pitch: 

 

Some heroic animals at, The Pingpank Zoo, share ideas of how to help Georgia Giraffe, who’s having appendicitis, then Baron Baboon’s suggestion has all the zoo animals jumping and singing, pinging and panking on their cages for help!

 

Here is the poem I wrote:

 

TIC-TOC GOES THE CLOCK

 

Each tic is a second.

Each toc is another.

Time goes on ticking and tocking forever.

 

Anytime the clock tics,

It cannot turn back.

So, dwell on what is, ‘cause the past never lasts.

 

A clock may lose power.

And stop now and then.

But, for us, time keeps ticking until our life ends.

 

The future’s a mystery,

What will be, will be.

Tic-toc goes the clock, so I hope you agree.

 

You’re here in the present.

So right now is a gift.

Let’s make right now matter...

Tic-toc, tic-toc, tic.

 

Until next time…

 

3/29/2025

It has been a busy year so far. At the end of 2024, I started the submitting process. Mostly to agents, but also to a few publishers. I started out strong in January and February. Of course I received the punch to my belly of a few rejections from a few agents, but at least I got a response and reason, even if it was the typical response, "Your manuscript does not fit what we are looking for at the moment."

 

 "They," say this is part of the growing process, so I press on. I am excited to be a Little Golden Book member of 12x12 Challenge.com this year and one of their elf moderators, I am helping out with Critique Connect, Events and Replays, and directing new members when they need help. I am also excited as a Little Golden Book member, to have the opportunity to submit to agents that I would not otherwise be able to submit. So far, I have written three new drafts and revised  a few of them.  I love the critique forum on 12x12 Challenge and I am also loving the book chats and monthly webinars. I am keeping my eye on the prize and staying strong while failing forward. Every NO gets me closer to a YES!