100 Years Ago, Ruth's House Opened for Business!
Hi Fishbowl Friends! Today is the day-the day that started this whole journey-from idea to poem to picture book: April 18th, 1923! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Here’s the link to the article. Thank you all for being on this journey—and celebrating with me!
Poetry Challenge #291-A Little Bit Corny
Happy Birthday to poet Eric McHenry (April 12, 1972), who was the Poet Laureate of Kansas from 2015-2017.
His poems are a lot of fun. Read this sample:
Poetry Challenge #291
Little Bit Corny
Now try to mimic Eric McHenry’s poem. Tell a story in couplets (two lines that rhyme).
Notice McHenry uses 8 or 9 syllables per line.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, Write it!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2400+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Author Chat with Robin Hall-April 6th Noon EDT! Join us!
Hi Friends! April 6th-Thursday-Noon EDT! Yes! Tomorrow—or maybe today! Maybe RIGHT NOW!
I’m chatting author-to-author about picture book creation with fellow VCFA alumnx Robin Hall, who also has a new picture book coming soon from Familus, called The Littlest Weaver. We’ll have plenty to chat about—research, writing, revising…secrets—and it will be heaps of fun! And there’s a #giveaway!
Step-by-Step Instructions for joining the chat are below! Everything you need to know.
Join Us! Bring your questions! Tell your Friends!
How to Join Insta-chat:
1. You’ll need an instagram account to access the live.
2. Follow @robinhallwrites (which you want to do for the giveaway, anyhow!)
3. At noon Eastern on Thursday, sign in to your account.
4. On the top of your account where the stories are, @robinhallwrites will start the Instagram Live. You will see her face in one of the stories and a red circle around it. As her follower, you will get a notification that she is live, as well.
5. Click on the story circle and you’re in
6. Enjoy the fun and feel free to ask questions and interact in the chat.
Looking forward to seeing y’all this Thursday, April 6th!
WINNER OF The House That Ruth Built Pre-Order Giveaway is!
Happy April Fool’s Day! But not trick, only treats!
Before I announce the winner of The House That Ruth Built pre-order give-away, Thank you! Thank you! Everyone who shared about the book, reposted, liked, loved—and pre-ordered a copy of my new picture book.
Now…. scroll down for the big winner . . .
The winner is: Lindsey Vagt.
I repeat: Lindsey Vagt.
Lindsey wins the way-cool ALL-STAR Baseball Backpack Charm from Veronica's Arts — personalized, too!
IF YOU DIDN’T WIN the contest, you are all winners. And if you ordered from Red Jacket Books you’ll be recieving a surprise along with your book.
If you ordered somewhere else, you deserve a sweet surprise, too. So pop me a note in the comments and I’ll make sure you get a treat!
And be on the lookout because there is more prizes and more fun ahead! After all, the 100th Anniversary of the original Yankee Stadium and that opening day game is April 18th! So get ready to Play Ball!
Poetry Challenge #289-Once More With Feeling
There are so many quotes about revision, it leads one to wonder if dreaming up pithy things to say about revision is a classic way to avoid revision…
But, not this time!
I am 99.9 % positive that nothing has been published that has never been revised.
And so it’s time…
long past time….
Take a deep breath, take out a happy colored pen (or sharpen that Ticonderoga), and let’s get to it!
Poetry Challenge #289
Once More With Feeling
Pull out a fistful of poems you’ve written as a result of these 7-minute Poetry Prompts or otherwise.
Set a timer for one (or two) minute(s).
Skim through your last few poems, looking for a word or phrase that you like. If possible, find more than one! Circle it/them.
Set your timer for six minutes (seven if you’re generous). Write the word(s) or phrase(s) you collected into a new poem.
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, Revise it!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2400+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Fin Pal Ask Norman "What's this Dude's Name?"
In my picture book Not Norman, A Goldfish Story, the boy lists lots of reasons why he doesn’t want Norman. Do you remember what they were?
But as the story goes along, what happens? Does the boy really not like Norman? Or????
And what about Zayden’s question? Do you know that the boy in the book is called?
Ready to read Norman’s answer? Scroll down . . .
Glug
Glug
Glug . . .
But first, Look at the Fintabulous drawing Zayden created!
Q: Why are fish so easy to weigh?
A: Because they have their own scales.
Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish- about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter!
Don’t forget to order your copy of NOT NORMAN: A GOLDFISH STORY and NORMAN: ONE AMAZING GOLDFISH!!
Poetry Challenge #288-Begin in Kansas . . .
March 22nd is a red-letter day! It’s officially spring! Three Two Twos—who doesn’t love saying “tutu”—and it’s the birthday of American’s Favorite Poet, Billy Collins! (If you doubt that “favorite” bit take it up with the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, Bruce Weber, who called him “the most popular poet in America.”
Billy Collins, former poet laureate of the United States (2001-2003) and New York State poet laureate (2004-2006), was born in NYC! In 1975 he cofounded the Mid-Atlantic Review with Michael Shannon, has more degrees than digits on a thermometer, receives six-figure advances on—gasp—“poetry collections,” of which he has published eleven: one-one!
An only child, Billy’s mother, a nurse, “had the ability to recite verses on almost any subject, which she often did, and cultivated in her young son the love of words, both written and spoken.” Listen up, y’all!
Why?
“[Billy Collins] puts the ‘fun’ back in profundity.”
Poetry Challenge #288
Begin in Kansas . . .
In an NPR interview* Scott Simon asked Billy Collins how his poems start in one place and end up in another. Collins response: I'm always looking to move the poem or let the poem expand or contract or turn in some unexpected direction.” Or, in his own words, his poems “Begin in Kansas and end in OZ.”
Let’s give it a try. Below is a snap of the Table of Contents from Collin’s collection of short poems, Musical Tables. And here’s what Billy C has to say about short poetry:
Thinking “Short,” choose a title from the list. Use that title in a short poem of your own. Use it as the poem’s title or in the body of the poem. Either way, see if you can’t do as Billy does and take your poem in a completely different place from where it began.
Bulldog Tutuville maybe!
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, Write Toto, Write!
*Craving more Billy Collins? Listen/read the Billy Collins on Musical Tables interview with NPR’s Scott Simon.
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2400+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
The House That Ruth Built Pre-Order Giveaway!
WARMING UP! It’s almost time for The House That Ruth Built to launch (available March 28th) which to my way of thinking means: Time for Baseball Charms & Sweet Surprises!
To celebrate the book’s birthday, I’m hosting a Give-Away. What’s the prize: A way-cool ALL-STAR Baseball Backpack Charm from Veronica's Arts — personalized, too!
How To Enter: Easy? Order THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT and send the proof of purchase to KELLY’S FISHBOWL by Mar. 31st to enter. (US addys only.)
Drawing will be held April 1st. No foolin'!
If you order from Red Jacket Books you can get personalized signed copies. Each book will come with a brand-spanking new baseball bat bookmark—and you’ll be automatically entered in the Give-Away!
IT’S A WIN-WIN! Let’s PLAY BALL!