Celebrating the release of THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO GOBBLED A SKINK!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

  

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Welcome! I'm happy to be celebrating the release of my second picture book, THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO GOBBLED A SKINK.

This is my waterfront version of the classic folktale. In this story the old lady is a wacky fisherwoman who gobbles a skink, a worm, a bobber, her fishing line...oh, the list goes on!  

Like the original, if you know the tune you can sing along:

"There was an old lady who gobbled a skink.

Why would she think to gobble a skink?

Perhaps she’ll sink." 

This hungry old lady arrived unexpectedly one day when I was tinkering with poetry and story ideas. I love docks and being near water, so those elements found their way into my musings and this book. There were so many fun images and rhymes that came together I needed to see how the story would end. And speaking of the ending, during some of my school visits when I'm sharing with students what I'm working on next, I’ve been asking:

Do YOU think

the old lady will sink?

Their answers vary from those who strongly think she will NOT sink, to those who strongly believe (maybe hope) that she will. I've been telling students they'll be able to find out on February 2, 2016. I would love to tell you what happens, too, but what fun will it be if I spoil the ending?

I'm heading to the Vero Beach Book Center today to celebrate with a group of young readers. What a fun way to welcome my new book! Also, I’m working with exceptional first grade teacher Ed Spicer on a teacher guide – it will be available soon.

In celebration of the release I'm giving away one copy. I welcome you to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. There are no restrictions and the contest is open to everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO GOBBLED A SKINK is published by Sky Pony Press and the adorable illustrations are by Ana Bermejo. It's now available wherever books are sold. If you’d like a signed or personalized copy of this or any of my books, you can contact the VERO BEACH BOOK CENTER at 1-888-732-3226 – just indicate the names you’d like me to include in the inscription. 

~~~~~

Thanks for stopping by and celebrating with me!

National Poetry Month 2015 Is Near!

The 2015 National Poetry Month celebration begins just days from now. I'm making plans and enjoying this year's poster designed by Roz Chast, a 2014 National Book Award finalist and New Yorker cartoonist. Roz's clever art features a line of poetry from Mark Strand’s wonderfully devilish, "Eating Poetry" which begins:

"Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.

There is no happiness like mine.

I have been eating poetry..."

Click here for the rest of Mark Strand's "Eating Poetry.”

Click on the poster to learn more about the Academy of American Poets and National Poetry Month.

To celebrate National Poetry Month this year, each week during April I'll feature a new poetry-related book right here including a giveaway of each of the books. Here is the line up of featured books:

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

March 30 - April 3 week:

THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong

April 6-10 week:

BLUE BIRDS by Caroline Starr Rose

April 13-17 week:

AUDACITY by Melanie Crowder

April 20-24 week:

GONE FISHING: A Novel in Verse paperback by me: Tamera Will Wissinger

Here are other poetry-related happenings:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm also looking forward to participating in Irene Latham's 2015 Progressive Poem. Last year was my first time participating and it was such fun I decided to jump in again. I'll be adding the participating poets in my sidebar so that we can follow along as the poem is written.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To celebrate the release of the Gone Fishing paperback, through 3/31 I’m hosting a Gone Fishing giveaway on twitter using the hashtag #GoneFishingPaperback.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today's Poetry Friday is with Jone at Check It Out!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's all for now. Have a great weekend, enjoy National Poetry Month and I hope to see you back here in April to celebrate!

The Long Way Home to Becoming A Children's Author - a short movie

I've been practicing with video making and as a companion to my feature today at Smack Dab in the Middle Blog, I wanted to share this video that talks about this month's theme of when we knew we wanted to be authors. For me, the it was a long journey. I welcome you to watch:

Here's my written version at Smack Dab in the Middle Blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

06.14.14