December-January 2022-2023 |
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IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE: What Happened to December AAUW NC Award February Event Zahra's Fun Fact My Personal Gossip |
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WHAT HAPPENED TO DECEMBER |
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I never wrote a December newsletter. I intended to several times. Then, this week, I realized it was time for the January newsletter. So rather than try to put out a late December issue and an on-time January one, I decided to combine them. How did I miss December? Well, I blame it on big life changes that occurred in 2022. My life snowballed, so-to-speak. (More on that in My Personal Gossip.) When life snowballs, back-burner items melt away into the abyss. Which leads me to my first 2023 resolution: Don't put author things—like this newsletter, social media, event planning, etc.—on the back burner. This, therefore, is both a late December AND a slightly early January newsletter. |
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On November 9, I received an email that took my breath away. It was from Pat Ashe (pictured below, left) informing me that Society of the Sentinelia was selected to receive the 2022 AAUW (American Association of University Women) NC Young People's Literature Award. Per the AAUW NC website, “Since 1953, AAUW of North Carolina has partnered with the NC Literary and Historical Association to present an award in recognition of the most significant work of original juvenile literature published over the course of the last year by a North Carolina author.” |
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On December 2, during the annual meeting of the NC Literary and Historical Association, the AAUW NC Young People's Literature Award was one of six awards presented at the Archives & History State Library Building in downtown Raleigh. | | |
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At the event, I wasn't aware I'd have the opportunity to speak. So when I was invited to say a few words, I awkwardly thanked my family—my hubby Dave, my mom Ella, my son Evan, and our neighbor/NC Rep. Pat Hurley—for joining me at the event. I thanked the NC chapter of AAUW for selecting my book. After that, I said some sappy stuff about living a dream and then choked altogether, ending with a non sequitur "Thank you!" before stepping away from the mic. Meanwhile, I failed to publicly thank: My publisher, Level Best Books My editor, Shawn Reilly Simmons The NC Literary and Historical Association My other two sons, Elliott & Ethan My critique partners for this book, Lynn & Karen Had I prepared ahead, I'd have mentioned each of you in a longwinded, heartfelt, sincere acceptance speech. But alas, my brain was in a fog of surreal, shock-tainted joy. Next time I win an award for this or other works, I will prepare ahead! |
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Online options for purchasing the award-winning middle grade novel, Society of the Sentinelia, for your 8-12 year old! |
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It's winter. Scraebins don't keep calendars, so they don't keep up with birth dates or celebrate individual birthdays. They do celebrate birth seasons during one seasonal event to honor all those born in that season. Both Zahra and her father were born during the winter season. Zahra loves winter. It's when trees stop growing and have a chance to rest. It's when we see six-sided snow flakes, each unique and special like us. Rest like the trees. Let your uniqueness shine like a snowflake. |
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2022 was my year of drastic change that snowballed out of control. Maybe it was a mid-life crisis year? It began as any typical year in my life. Demanding work schedule. Free time spent writing. Plus, the added joy of preparing for the publication of Society of the Sentinelia. Then things began to change. |
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Society of the Sentinelia was published in May. After the excitement died down, it was time to live and breathe the author life of marketing my work and working on the next work. I was also still deeply entrenched in a demanding job. In August, in an effort to maintain my sanity (or give it up altogether?) I abruptly dove into teaching in a middle school. I taught preschool during college. Upon graduating from NC State, I taught kindergarten and first grade. But that was ages ago. Returning to teaching led to the requirement that I complete my licensure. Upon a bit of research, I realized I could also earn a degree. This snowballed into an application and swift acceptance into a master's degree program. My first class was fall 2022. By September, I was elbow deep in master's-level coursework, which took about 6-10 hours a week. At the same time, I was desperately trying to keep my head above water re-learning how to teach, which took about 60-70 hours a week. Teaching today is absolutely NOTHING like teaching in the early '90s. Oh, and the manuscript for BLIND FAIRY, the next novel in the Zahra of the Uwharries series, was due to my editor by mid-November. Plus author events, marketing, and a writing conference. All of that drained me of the rest of my hours per week and then some. With my manuscript turned in early, the first semester of coursework behind me, and the fact that I survived teaching through to the winter break, I'm happy to report I'm relatively re-adjusted. I've settled into a new routine that accommodates teaching, writing, and being a student. Sometimes, I even get to see my family and friends. Which leads me to my second, and final, 2023 resolution: Don't start anything new or make any abrupt, life-altering changes until at least 2025. |
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