Oh the weather outside ...

IS FRIGHTFUL!

On Sunday, December 4, Monroe, WI received it's first substantial snowfall ... Everything looked absolutely gorgeous and Muffin & Shadow enjoyed playing in the snow.  ENJOY the pictures from the GREAT WHITE NORTH!

My new star .... I LOVE IT!!!!!

Not a creature was stirring ... only Steven & I on a way to a book event!

6:00 am at the ECKROAT's ...

Pretty SNOWY out!

So pretty ...

The best way to drive in a snowstorm -- follow a PLOW!

 

SHADOW ... in the SNOW ... in his COAT ...

We're trying to pose for mom but want to go play!

 

Playing!!!!

Loving the snow!

 

THE HORSE!!!  Yes -- it made the trip to WI ... it's Santa Hat is covered in snow!

MEGA Snowblower!

Go BIG!!!  We learned that from Massachusetts!

This ain't our first RODEO -- or SNOWFALL!

 

Where's DAD???

There he is!!!

Our quaint neighborhood ... loving MONROE!

Just thought this was pretty!

OMG ... SANTA hanging from the roof!!!!  YIKES!!!!!  I think he's a bit early!

Merry Christmas to ALL!!!

Hope you enjoyed pictures from our first WISCONSIN snowfall!

 

 

A TRUE HONOR

When we moved to Monroe, Wisconsin earlier this year, I had no idea how many amazing people I would meet through the Market on the Square Farmers Market.  I've met wonderful vendors, who sell amazing fruits, vegetables and many other wonderful items.  BUT ... I've met some WONDERFUL customers who stop by every time they come to the market to say HI! 



Laila with her A Simpler Time story pumpkins

I met a very sweet family early in the summer -- Mom, Dad, 2 sweet girls and an adorable little boy!  They bought a few of my books and the kids were excited to read them.  A few weeks later, the MOM stopped by and told me how they really enjoyed A Simpler Time.  It really made me happy that they loved this special book of mine!  About three weeks ago they stopped by my booth again and told me about a really cool project that Laila was making for school, using A Simpler Time.

Laila attends Northside Elementary School here is Monroe.  Her school was having a pumpkin decorating contest.  The cool thing about this contest was that the kids were to decorate the pumpkin to look like the character.  But, Laila did much more -- she decorated the pumpkins to tell the story!!!   LAILA picked A Simpler Time ... I'm truly honored. 

Here is her work ... she did a fabulous job!!! 

Laila and A.J.

 from left to right

Tadpoles, fireflies, clover flowers, cloud watching, 4-leaf clovers

 

Why Laila loves A Simpler Time

 

Thank you very much Laila -- you have truly touched me and this is a wonderful tribute to one of my books.  I am so glad you used nature to tell the story of this book that is about spending time in nature and enjoying its beauty.

 

THANK YOU.

 

I hope you all have enjoyed seeing this special tribute to A Simpler Time.

 

If you would like to order a copy of A Simpler Time, please email me at

thelifeofbud@aol.com

 

Went To the Farmers Market ...

Came Home With a Cool Story ...

I know I haven't posted in a while ... I should have captured the WHOLE move in blog posts.  But, I have to admit -- it was tiring and I was stressed.  Now that we've lived in Monroe, WI for almost 2 months, I'm feeling less stressed and more AT HOME!

The summer did not fly by like it normally does ... I've been able to unpack boxes, take a few day trips, visit with my mom, spend lots of time walking the dogs, reading, a little gardening, and a bit of home improvement ... I did want to write more, but that will come! 

I love Monroe.  I was a bit scared to move to a small town; being away from Starbucks and Target and Kohls and Bed, Bath & Beyond!  But -- it's OK ... there's small coffee shops here and stores that I have been able to get everything I need -- and they are all within a mile from my home!  Walking to the post office is FUN! And living 3 blocks from the fair grounds and 3 blocks from the Square are wonderful!

I was very blessed to be OK'd to sell my books at the Farmer's Market!  I've met some wonderful people who are very talented and sell some great products and also producers who have some REALLY GOOD PRODUCE!!!!!! 

Shannon, ROXY, me
 

I also now have a very COOL story to go along with the book -- Went Out To Get a Donut - Came Home With a Muffin!  The secretary (at the school I'm going to be teaching at in a few weeks) stopped by my table a couple weeks ago.  We talked and she thought the Muffin book was super cute!  Her daughter (Shannon) will be going to college in a few weeks and is majoring in Broadcast Journalism -- she wanted to get her a fun book because she also loves to write!  I told her about the Muffin book and so she purchased it!  Last week, while at the farmer's market, this girl comes up to me and explains who she is!  She was SHANNON!  When her mom gave her the book, and she read it ... she actually got really sad and said to her mom "how could you get me a book about getting a rescue dog when you won't let me get a new dog!"  They had lost their dog about 6 months ago and Shannon really wanted another dog!  So ... that being said -- a friend was getting rid of their BEAGLE named ROXY and Shannon was able to RESCUE IT!  All because of Muffin's book!  So Shannon's mom went to the Farmer's Market, got a book, and rescued a dog!  Roxy is super cute and reminds me soooooooooooooooo MUCH of Mabel ....

But, you never know where a story will come from ... here are a few pics of me, Shannon and ROXY in the Monroe Square at the Famer's Market! I'm glad Roxy has found a great home and I wish Shannon much luck in college!

Trying to get ROXY to look at the camera ....

Roxy so looks like Mabel! 

 

 

Muffin & Mabel

Muffin's first week with us ... Mabel showing Muffin how it's done!

 

Muffin bugging Mabel!

How that little pup got bigger than Mabel in like 2 months was amazing!!!!

 

 

 

RED wins AWARDS!

 

 R E D is Red HOT! 

 

Red Goes To Kindergarten has just been bestowed with a few honors!  I'm really excited about this book because for five years RED lived inside my head and it is always very exciting to see the book go from idea to print!  So it's very exciting that I can share with you the news about the awards RED has recently won!



 

The day RED debuted!  Sharing Kindergarten skills with pre-schoolers!

 

Back in December, doing the audio version of RED -- a FREE audio download  comes with EVERY book purchased!!!

 

 

On March 1, 2016 -- Red Goes to Kindergarten was awarded BEST PICTURE BOOK for ages 7 & Under by the Texas Association of Authors!

 

 

On March 9, 2016 -- Red Goes To Kindergarten was Story Monster Approved!!!!!

 

 

Some HAPPY Red Readers!!!

 

On Friday, March 11, I was interviewed by Dear Texas Radio Interview

I hope you can click on the link and listen to my interview!

I will be participating in the Wimberley Book Festival in May and many TAA Award winners will be there!

 

 

 

 

 

DAISY will soon BLOOM!

Greg & I

I'm always nervous, excited, scared, ecstatic and a whole host of other emotions when a new book will be released. I'm extremely lucky to have a great publisher that makes the process pretty EASY and have teamed back with my illustrator GREG WHITE who can do what my hands could never do! He's so very talented!  I did get to meet him a few years back and hope that this coming September he will be able to join me for a book event ... which will be LOTS OF FUN!

Greg hard at work ... illustrating!

 

When Greg gets the manuscript he begins by setting up a really raw storyboard ... he draws some very simple sketches and reflects on what words would best make the story come alive! 

Once the story board is drawn, Greg will sketch some characters ... His pencil drawings are always stunning .... but then he adds color and

 

WOW .... Daisy BLOOMED!!!!!!!

 

 

Here's a sneak peek at a few illustrations from my upcoming book

Daisy:  A Life Cycle Series

I can't WAIT!!!!  I hope you are excited too ...  Let me know if you are interested in a copy from the first printing ... they should be available in May, 2016 ....

 

RED GOES TO KINDERGARTEN ... AUDIO

When The Life of Bud was released, I felt overwhelmed and did not think I could do the audio that comes with the book. Since then, I have been able to do the audio for all of the rest of my books ... it is a LOT of fun!  Here are a few pictures of my trip to Tate Publishing in Mustang, OK back on December 29 to complete the Audio for Red Goes To Kindergarten ....

Tate Music and Audio studio ...

 

 A HUGE ice storm descended over MUSTANG, OK on December 27 & 28, 2015 ... I was supposed to drive to Mustang on December 28 and I'm glad that the audio group could reschedule to Tuesday ... BUT -- I still could not believe how THICK all the ice was the closer I got to the Tate Studios ...

Everything was shimmery and gorgeous in the sun!

 

 

The fields looked as if they were encased in glass ... these pictures don't capture how incredibly beautiful the landscape was!

In the studio -- about to record ...

I only got tongue - tied once

and one time I just couldn't help it -- I had to clear my throat!

So not too shabby ... I got the audio finished in about 30 minutes!

 

As I was driving home and was about 25 miles from Mustang ... I came across these fields flooded.

In the picture on the right ... there is a road that is supposed to be there -- but is totally under water!

Nature is amazing ...

 

If you are a teacher and would like to schedule me to come to your school for literacy night, author meet & greet or to do a fundraiser, please feel free to send me an email at

thelifeofbud@aol.com

or leave a comment here.

THANKS!