tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81872845957858936532024-03-13T11:39:29.494-04:00Auntie FlamingoMy writings and other "stuff."Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-72882640571997926052012-01-02T19:54:00.001-05:002012-01-02T19:54:30.653-05:00Move to new blog - meet you thereHello Everyone,<br />
<br />
I just wanted to let you know I will not be posting regularly to this blog. I now have a blog under my real name which will cover all types of writing I do; picture book, children's poetry and other genres.<br />
<br />
Please see my post at <a href="http://madelinebarr.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-watch-out-2012.html">http://madelinebarr.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-watch-out-2012.html</a><br />
<br />
Thank you all for following me here and I hope you will continue to follow me over at the other blog.<br />
<br />
Madeline BarrMadeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-74566029542453764042011-11-26T16:52:00.000-05:002011-11-26T16:53:26.053-05:00Guinea Pig Surprise - The Surprise<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YohQZmX8tvw" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Be sure to see </span><a href="http://auntieflamingo.blogspot.com/2011/11/guinea-pig-surprise-non-writing-post.html" style="background-color: #ccb6a8; color: #e21d85; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"> Episode 1 - The Plan</a> and <a href="http://auntieflamingo.blogspot.com/2011/11/guinea-pig-surprise-one-week-away.html" style="background-color: #ccb6a8; color: #e21d85; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">Episode 2 - One Week Away</a>Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-34261856874233456662011-11-13T17:15:00.001-05:002011-11-13T17:27:03.231-05:00Guinea Pig Surprise - One Week Away<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WVF58VHHNUI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>The surprise is planned for November 18th, 2011</p>
<p><a href="http://auntieflamingo.blogspot.com/2011/11/guinea-pig-surprise-non-writing-post.html"> Be sure to see Episode 1 - The Plan</a></p>Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-32302969706678517202011-11-12T21:38:00.001-05:002011-11-13T17:25:18.154-05:00Guinea Pig Surprise - non-writing post<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DtfiphA8wFo" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Who knows, it could lead to a picture book. LOL
<p><a href="http://auntieflamingo.blogspot.com/2011/11/guinea-pig-surprise-one-week-away.html">Continue to Episode 2 - One Week Away</a></p>Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-38893561929161096602011-10-29T11:26:00.000-04:002011-10-29T11:26:40.418-04:00Halloween Horror Poster CompetitionI created this image for a Halloween Horror Poster Competition,
on the Lyons New Media Centre Facebook page! I'm in need of votes and they have to be in before Oct. 31, 2011.<br />
<br />
Click here to see it in full and vote :
<a href="http://bit.ly/sKMMFO">http://bit.ly/sKMMFO</a><br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YUCjfXSAfJNDgnT1BjqBD5S3qEkcVLDR9Q43_5Zw3TEj7qsBui81hvxd5i7MQIDGc6pDgRHoMhgoTqyuDnxWbOmzbufiq3dl5UYWxrF1rzom90wuxtaAyXfCMcGTyqWDWa9Iqo2QvAw/s320/Hauntingly_Beautiful_Madeline.jpg" width="240" /></div>
<br />Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-16173782986051450412011-10-29T11:06:00.001-04:002011-10-29T11:06:46.413-04:00JACK-O-LANTERNS - An Acrostic Poem<br />
I've posted this acrostic poem before but I thought I'd post is again since it fits the occasion.<br />
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<b>JACK-O-LANTERNS</b><br />
by Madeline Barr</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
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<b>J</b>agged tooth grin<br />
<b>A</b>nd nothing to say.<br />
<b>C</b>andy he guards,<br />
<b>K</b>eeping ghouls away.<br />
<br />
<b>O</b>range, cool armor he wears. His<br />
<br />
<b>L</b>ife, an internal light.<br />
<b>A</b>rmed with an eerie glow and the<br />
<b>N</b>atural darkness of night.<br />
<b>T</b>riangular, flashing eyes<br />
<b>E</b>xamine the area for miles.<br />
<b>R</b>elentlessly protecting the sweet treats but<br />
<b>N</b>ever forgetting to<br />
<b>S</b>mile!</div>
<br />Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-85323159813632282042011-10-10T18:13:00.000-04:002011-10-10T18:13:12.211-04:00Dream SoupTaken from <a href="http://madelinebarr.blogspot.com/">http://madelinebarr.blogspot.com</a><br />
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I had the strangest dream last night. I dreamed I received an acceptance letter in the form of soup. Yes, SOUP.
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I got it from the mailbox and it was chicken soup with pasta words. As I stirred the soup the pasta words floated around with the chunks of chicken and carrots. The words started to surface so I could actually read them. YOUR was the first word, then SUBMISSION. As I kept stirring the word that had surfaced just bobbled around a bit but didn't move. HAS and BEEN joined the first two words. The next word was long and stared with an A.<br />
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ACCEPTED!<br />
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<br />
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I kept stirring thinking it was a joke and waited for the word NOT to pop into place but it never did. I was so happy I stared to cry.
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<br />
Then I woke up.<br />
I can come up with a few meanings for this dream but I want to know what you think.Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-58315898199592209692011-10-03T12:28:00.001-04:002011-10-03T12:28:44.175-04:00Pumpkin CarvingsQuick post.<br />
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I love Halloween. One of my favorite things to do is carve the pumpkin. Usually we get 3 pumpkins; one for each of the kids and one for me. We have to get one for me or else I'm hovering over the kids telling them how to carve theirs and that's not good for them or me. I usually carve a fun cartoon character because I have young kids. As they get older I will move to more scary stuff.<br />
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Here are 2 pictures of pumpkins I have carved in previous years. I either make my own template or I don't use one at all.. I have also done Tigger and Dora - I'll have to see if I can find the picture of those.<br />
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2010 - Tinkerbell<br />
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2009 - Elmo<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweC3f6j2VoyhMDKsEm8O2ytgH2v9EkuhtRflKXiiahghlK3xgiSAOajxG7QRwVDo38IR0h1WaEuvLPuG8sbdQpucwrWP_aYpbM7EMCw8EQoeYN_g23lsp3QVDQKcMYfE2Mj39sJShzsPi/s1600/elmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweC3f6j2VoyhMDKsEm8O2ytgH2v9EkuhtRflKXiiahghlK3xgiSAOajxG7QRwVDo38IR0h1WaEuvLPuG8sbdQpucwrWP_aYpbM7EMCw8EQoeYN_g23lsp3QVDQKcMYfE2Mj39sJShzsPi/s320/elmo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I haven't decided yet what I'm going to do this year. Maybe OSO? Any other suggestions?Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-66209888005483806952011-08-31T13:12:00.003-04:002011-08-31T13:20:53.976-04:00A Free Kindle book for people in the USOK here is a freebie for all my American friends who have Kindle.
<br />Arthur Slade's, Edgar-nominated horror DUST (the Kindle version) is available for free for a short time on Amazon.
<br />
<br />Here's the link you need:
<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M8SSBO">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M8SSBO</a>
<br />
<br />Enjoy!Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-4369164308106592432011-07-18T21:17:00.001-04:002011-07-18T21:21:51.576-04:00Media Barr: It's Here And A Little Dirty!!Have you seen this?<br /><br /><a href="http://mediabarr.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-here-and-little-dirty.html?spref=bl">Media Barr: It's Here And A Little Dirty!!</a>: "Media Barr is proud to announce the launch of 'This Is The Mud' Spot the differences game. Author Kathryn Apel contacted Media Barr and rec..."Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-73166241471677789212011-06-05T21:17:00.004-04:002011-06-05T21:32:03.498-04:00Your Book Cover In A GameWhat if your book cover could be part of a "spot the differences" game....on your site.....for free?<br /><br />Free interactive media of your cover, logo or anything else you can think of is available at <a href="http://mediabarr.blogspot.com/">http://mediabarr.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Help keep people at your site and passing your game on to friends.<br /><br />Also, thought the scratch card might be a great idea for wishing a friend a happy birthday, we're pregnant or any other special message you might have for that someone special.Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-52255791987716063392011-05-10T11:45:00.011-04:002011-05-10T12:43:44.540-04:00Are You Giving Your 'Stick' To The Right 'Person?'How is this dog like some newbie writers?<br /><br /><iframe height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/q8DiOthAKek?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="480" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><br />He didn’t do his research.<br /><br />Being a writer is not easy.<br /><br />You come with an idea. Develop characters, plot, and setting. You create a mood and watch your characters grow. You add a twist. You write, rewrite and then write it again. Then you rewrite some more. You flesh out and cut out. You’re meticulous about every word. And then you finally type “The End.”<br /><br />You can’t take your story and place it at the feet of an agent and expect them to pick it up.<br /><br />At first glance any agent may look perfect. They’re bright and shiny on the outside, not a hair out of place. But you need to look deeper, on the inside. You need to make sure your story is right for the agent and you need to make sure the agent is right for you. If you send your picture book manuscript to an agent who only handles YA and MG you’re wasting their time and your time. What genre are they looking for? What are the agent’s likes and dislikes? Do they have a soft spot for cowboys, vampires or vampire-cowboys? Are there any blog interviews with the agent online? Are they speaking at a writing conference? What authors do they represent? Have you read any of their client’s books?<br /><br />There are many great resources on the internet when searching for an agent. Two very good sites are:<ul><li>Agent Query <a href="http://www.agentquery.com/" target="new">http://www.agentquery.com/</a> </li><br /><li>Preditors & Editors <a href="http://pred-ed.com/" target="new">http://pred-ed.com/</a> </li></ul>Not doing your research may make you look like a fool while you bark up the wrong tree.Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-71480002582291591752011-04-27T16:23:00.005-04:002011-04-28T23:37:15.464-04:00It's Almost Here! Are you Ready?NaPiBoWriWee - National Picture Book Writing Week<br /><br />Along with her new web site design, Paula Yoo has posted information about the 3rd annual National Picture Book Writing Week (a.k.a. NaPiBoWriWee) The goal of NaPiBoWriWee is to try to write 7 picture book manuscripts (rough drafts) in 7 days. Prizes will also be given away by random draws for those who particpate.<br /><br />I have participated in NaPiBoWriWee since the first one in 2009 and have found it to be the freeing, kick-in-the-pants I need. Try it, you'll see what I mean.<br /><br />For more information about NaPiBoWriWee visit Paula's site at <a href="http://paulayoo.com/napi/?p=11">http://paulayoo.com/napi/?p=11</a> <br /><br />If you have any questions about my previous expiences in this challenge feel free to ask.Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-33068205685792199502011-03-25T15:40:00.012-04:002011-03-30T12:59:01.000-04:00WICKED PRETTY THINGS is not so pretty right nowWhile on twitter I saw a number of tweets and retweets about authors pulling their submission from an anthology, WICKED PRETTY THINGS. I decided to check it out and I have gathered some links and information for you.<br /><br/>Basically Jessica Verday, author of THE HOLLOW trilogy, had written a male/male love story and was asked by the editor to change it to a male/female relationship because it would not be acceptable to the publishers. She refused and pulled her submission and support of the anthology. In support, so far, 3 other authors are pulling their submissions from the anthology as well. Below I have posted 2 links from Jessica Verday's blog which include quotes from the editor and the publishers. I have also posted links to the blog entries of the other authors who have posted why they have chosen to pull their stories.<br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://jessicaverday.blogspot.com/2011/03/being-gay-is-okay.html">Jessica Verday - "Being Gay is Okay" Blog post</a> - includes editor's comments </li><br /><li><a href="http://jessicaverday.blogspot.com/2011/03/wicked-pretty-things-running-press-and.html">Jessica Verday - "Wicked Pretty Things - Running Press and Constable & Robinson Respond" Blog post</a> - includes publishers' comments </li></ul><br/><h2>Blog Posts From The Other Authors Who Have Pulled Their Stories</h2><ul><li><a href="http://lesleylivingston.blogspot.com/2011/03/in-brief.html">Lesley Livingston - "In Brief" Blog Post</a> </li><br /><li><a href="http://www.kazmahoney.com/2011/03/25/friday-update-wpt-anthology/">Karen Mahoney - "Friday update: WPT anthology" Blog Post</a> </li><br /><li><a href="http://lisamantchev.livejournal.com/374447.html">Lisa Mantchev - "A note from the Management:" Blog Post</a> <a href="http://brennayovanoff.livejournal.com/33265.html">Brenna Yovanoff - "This is Not a Post About Sunshine" Blog Post</a> <span style="font-size:85%;">*updated March 26th, 2011</span> </li><br /><li><a href="http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/337562.html">Seanan McGuire - "Reasons for withdrawal: why I have pulled out of WICKED PRETTY THINGS." Blog Post</a> <span style="font-size:85%;">*updated March 30th, 2011</span> </li></ul><br /><p>* I will edit this post if more authors pull their stories Love is love.</p>Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-78917572062574943582011-03-16T13:55:00.003-04:002011-03-16T14:04:30.443-04:00POV and Picture BooksLast week at #pblitchat we talked about point of view (POV) in picture books. I am going to touch on a few points during the chat and add a few of my own. If you want to read a full version of the chat transcript you can see it at the <a href="http://picturebooksonly.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/transcript-1011-march/">Picture Books Only Blog – Transcript 10/11 March</a>.<br /><br />Point of view, or POV for short, in books is the perspective in which the story is told. Who’s eyes we see the story through. POV can be a difficult concept to wrap your head around.<br /><br />Basically there are three points of view: First, Second and Third<br /><br />There are finer details such as third person limited (you are ONLY able to write what one person sees/feels/hears/thinks) and third person omniscient (you can hover above everybody & see everything) but I’m not going to get into that at this time.<br /><br />I believe third POV is probably the most used in picture books followed by first POV. Second can and has been used however there doesn’t seem to be as many picture books in that POV.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">First Person POV<br /></span></strong>First person point of view is written with the narrator as part of the story. The words “I” and “we” are used. Though this POV brings us close to the narrator and show s/he thinks and feels, it does limit the story to the one person’s perspective. In picture books this shouldn’t pose too much of a problem since telling a story from more than one perspective can confuse a child. The other issue with first person is some younger children may get confused when being read to. When read “I went to the store” a child may think mommy or daddy really did go to the store. As <a href="http://www.karencollum.com.au/">KarenCollum</a> put it in #pblitchat “There’s an element of maturity involved in kids reading a PB in 1st and understanding that ‘me’ and ‘I’ is not them.”<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Second Person POV</span></strong><br />Second person point of view is written with you being part of the story. The words “you” and “your” are used. This POV pulls the reader right into the story. You often find this POV in choose your own adventure books or self help books. This type of POV is less popular in picture books – though it has been done and done well.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Third Person POV</strong><br /></span>Probably the most popular POV to write, third person POV tells the story from a person outside the story. The words “he,” “she,” “they” and “it” are used. This POV allows for more freedom in how that story is told.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Examples of Books Written in the Different POVs </span></strong><div style="PADDING-LEFT: 20px"><br /><strong>First POV</strong> <div style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px">• <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Pinkalicious-Victoria-Kann/dp/0060776390/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300209587&sr=8-1">Pinkalicious - by Victoria Kann</a><br />• <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Eloise-Kay-Thompson/dp/067122350X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300209642&sr=1-1">Eloise – by Hilary Knight</a><br />• <a href="http://www.bdb.com.au/books/index.php?book=my_dad_thinks_hes_funny">My Dad Thinks He’s Funny – by Katrina Germein</a><br />• <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Whatever-Dont-Near-That-Canoe/dp/0590124226/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300209959&sr=1-1">Whatever You Do, Don't Go Near That Canoe! - by Julie Lawson</a><br /></div><br /><strong>Second POV<br /></strong><div style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px">• The “If you …” books by Laura Numeroff <div style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px">o <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/If-You-Give-Mouse-Cookie/dp/0060245867/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300210812&sr=1-1">If You Give A Mouse A Cookie</a><br />o <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/If-You-Give-Pig-Pancake/dp/0060266864/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300210812&sr=1-2">If You Give A Pig A Pancake</a><br />o <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/If-You-Give-Moose-Muffin/dp/0060244054/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300210812&sr=1-3">If You Give A Moose A Muffin<br /></a>o <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/If-You-Take-Mouse-School/dp/0060283289/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300210812&sr=1-6">If You Take A Mouse To School</a></div></div><br /><br /><strong>Third POV<br /></strong><div style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px">• <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Pirate-Penguin-Patricia-Storms/dp/189734967X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300212808&sr=8-1-spell">The Pirate and the Penguin - by Patricia Storms<br /></a>• <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/More-Water-Tub-Tedd-Arnold/dp/0140564306/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300211152&sr=1-1">No More Water In The Tub - by Tedd Arnold</a><br />• <a href="http://www.karencollum.com.au/books">Samuel’s Kisses - by Karen Collum</a><br />• <a href="http://www.hachettechildrens.com.au/9780734411020/">This Is The Mud - by Kathryn Apel</a></div><br /></div><br />Have you ever tried to write one of your works in a different POV. What did you find? Does the story change? Did you find wholes in your story?<br />So, there you have it. Feel free to leave your comments about other books and POVs or anything else you would like.Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-83140094175327451072011-03-14T12:21:00.008-04:002011-03-15T12:33:26.599-04:00Picture Book Chat<p align="justify">If you are looking for a place to chat about picture books then you need to join <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23pblitchat">#pblitchat</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1D6iUZoyxRjNhtPKRsWwU5YuxCUM2iWRvwSKGALOimUrY563eFMl5499QJ1NHeQDKlnkpg_PZkR6MiMG3vln451IsN4idHELcsCf3OWdTG-p1yTSjwdvhix57mJgk-Y76VN9FEZx2hY/s1600/pbo-avatar-small.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 154px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584345116515959010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1D6iUZoyxRjNhtPKRsWwU5YuxCUM2iWRvwSKGALOimUrY563eFMl5499QJ1NHeQDKlnkpg_PZkR6MiMG3vln451IsN4idHELcsCf3OWdTG-p1yTSjwdvhix57mJgk-Y76VN9FEZx2hY/s320/pbo-avatar-small.jpg" /></a> Aussie writers <a href="http://twitter.com/KatApel">Kat Apel</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/KarenCollum">Karen Collum</a> run a blog called <a href="http://picturebooksonly.wordpress.com/">Picture Books Only</a> which is the home to #pblitchat. The chat is held once a week all about picture books is open to writers, librarian's and all lovers of children's picture books. Even though they state "Sorry – no middle-grade or YA novels allowed" they do tend to enter the conversation every once and a while however the main focus is pictures books.<br /><br />I have found these sessions very informative and entertaining with a very friendly group. We're all learning so no question is ever to stupid to ask and I feel comfortable asking all my "stupid" questions here. Every week there is a different picture book topic and sometimes a special guest. Kat and Karen listen closely to participants of #pblitchat and some of the topics are based on the feedback they get. Some topics in the past have been so popular more than one session has been devoted it.<br /><br /><strong>Topics</strong> include:<br />POV, technology, submission tracking, goals, myths in picture book publishing, plagiarism and copyright, From idea to polished manuscript: How do you get there? and the list goes on.<br /><br /><strong>Special guests</strong> such as:<br />Aaron Reynolds and Neil Numberman (creators of the ‘Joey Fly’ graphic novels) and other published authors and illustrators, publishing consultant Alex Adsett, agents, poetry writers...<br /><br /><strong>Time and Place</strong><br />The chat is the same day every week but you need to pay close attention to place and time of the chats. To help accommodate the different time zones the time and place of the chat alternates each week.<br /></p><blockquote><br />Every <strong>1st, 3rd</strong> and <strong>5th</strong> (if there is one) <strong>Thursday</strong> of the month the chat is held at <strong>7:00 am Eastern Time</strong> on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter </a>using the #pblitchat tag.<br /><br />Every <strong>2nd</strong> and <strong>4th</strong> <strong>Thursday</strong> the chat is held at <strong>6:30 pm Eastern Time</strong> in a <a href="http://www.chatzy.com/pblitchat">Chatzy </a>chat room.<br /></blockquote><p align="justify">For a full listing of #pblitchat times in each timezone see the <a href="http://picturebooksonly.wordpress.com/about-picture-books-only/">About Picture Books Only</a> page. In order to enter the Chatzy room a password is required but don't let that scare you off. Simply email pblitchat[at]skymesh[dot]com[dot]au or pblitchat[at]bigpond[dot]com and request the password. (This was necessary due to some off-topic gate-crashers.)<br /><br />Miss a chat or what to know more information about a topic previously covered? Kat and Karen happily post the chat transcript on their blog. You can find the <a href="http://picturebooksonly.wordpress.com/">transcripts on the Picture Books Only home page</a>. I'm also hoping to summarize the transcript here on my blog.<br /><br />Picture Books Only: <a href="http://picturebooksonly.wordpress.com/">http://picturebooksonly.wordpress.com/</a><br />Karen Collum: <a href="http://www.karencollum.com.au/">http://www.karencollum.com.au/</a><br />Kat Apel: <a href="http://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/">http://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/</a> </p><p></p>Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-8723492710352691972011-02-14T16:04:00.001-05:002011-02-14T16:04:56.989-05:00Happy Valentine's Day<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" width="338" height="515" id="cr" align="middle"><br /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /><br /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="false" /><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://home.cogeco.ca/~madelinebarr/flash/scratch2.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <embed src="http://home.cogeco.ca/~madelinebarr/flash/scratch2.swf" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="338" height="515" name="cr" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /><br /> </object><br /><br /><a href="http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/" target="new">Adobe Flash Player</a> is required.<br /><br />I'm a little scratch crazy this week. :)Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-12380127143224797442011-02-11T19:33:00.004-05:002011-02-11T19:50:50.021-05:00Cover Reveal Fun!<a href="http://cherylrainfield.com/blog/">Cheryl Rainfield</a>, author of SCARS (WestSide Books, March 24, 2010) has just revealed the cover of her new book. So, I've created a little fun using her new cover. <br /><br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" width="338" height="515" id="cr" align="middle"><br /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /><br /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="false" /><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://home.cogeco.ca/~madelinebarr/flash/cr.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <embed src="http://home.cogeco.ca/~madelinebarr/flash/cr.swf" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="338" height="515" name="cr" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /><br /> </object><br /><br /><a href="http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/" target="new">Adobe Flash Player</a> is required.Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-70762829467784428802011-01-31T19:46:00.005-05:002011-02-09T16:14:42.665-05:00Hiking Up My SocksI decided to hike up my socks and get to work polishing a picture book manuscript I have been working on-and-off for a long time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7xCgivtbIA34aX_e3ikWovEHo8jK028xFSQPzyFlPuYURV2CGD-Nj6TJwC7RwXOvTAu_vO_3cwAMxxj19cmXhpghvsdULLvDGCrRKNlt80GPHlJj-YE37gTQx7uPfj0cySd7bsDfftg/s1600/socks.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571800256355335026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7xCgivtbIA34aX_e3ikWovEHo8jK028xFSQPzyFlPuYURV2CGD-Nj6TJwC7RwXOvTAu_vO_3cwAMxxj19cmXhpghvsdULLvDGCrRKNlt80GPHlJj-YE37gTQx7uPfj0cySd7bsDfftg/s320/socks.jpg" /></a>So, last week I pulled it out of the draw and something interesting happened. That same day I had two different volunteer groups come to me and basically say, 'We'd like to use your writing skills. Can you help us? Would you write..." I don't mind helping and of course I said 'yes' but I find it funny that these requests come to me as soon as I decide to put all my focus on one of my bigger personal writing projects. My analytical mind now starts to wonder why this has happened and if there is a bigger meaning?<br /><br />I think the bigger meaning is, 'you need to write...more...now.' I have finished one of the requests already and the client was very happy. Surprisingly, it wasn't as tough as I thought it was going to be. The other project will not happen for a while.<br /><br />For now, I am looking to submit some smaller works, mainly poems, to magazines and web sites while I continue to work on my picture book manuscript and get it agent ready. Yay me!Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-71422122802383949512011-01-08T14:39:00.003-05:002011-01-08T14:55:50.178-05:00You Don't Know 'Jack'Jack and the Bean Stalk. Jack Jumps Over the Candlestick. Jack and Jill went up the Hill. Jack Sprat. Little Jack Horner. <br /><br />Do you know Jack or at least why Jack seems to be in so many fairy tales?<br /><br />Though the name 'Jack' has a very complex origin it's meaning is very simple. 'Jack' basically means 'guy.' Some guy jumped over the caldlestick, a guy and a girl (Jill is slang for a young woman) went up a hill. <br /><br />How many 'Jacks' have you heard of other than in fairy tales? Jack-in-the-box, Jack-of-all-trades...<br /><br />To read more about the name Jack see the following URL: http://tinyurl.com/22tk7x3Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-66593918604770457592010-12-05T14:10:00.000-05:002010-12-05T14:11:29.288-05:00Easy Letter To Santa Template<a href="http://home.cogeco.ca/~madelinebarr/letter_to_santa.pdf">Looking for a simple template for you child to use to write his/her letter to Santa?<br />I have one here: http://home.cogeco.ca/~madelinebarr/letter_to_santa.pdf<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547276183623614514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZAwxz6U_7v1GM-CbLMC9YoSVglnGGPTsdkGK5kP62JMKhc3SjrhfmdVf7E6BrJJXOM25gsuzVQoFoV07aJJ7v8ockP3k_Yrun6tlsFEcpI-W6ss56k8JZwCLbPjo6lW2z9ZUAdSU6RVz/s320/letter.jpg" /></a>Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-11616081614213793462010-11-17T15:17:00.004-05:002010-11-17T16:03:27.858-05:00Some YA Books Dontated! Yippy!Earlier this month I had the pleasure of meeting fellow writer <a href="http://www.joannelevy.com/">Joanne Levy</a> at a local coffee shop. We had meet through twitter and have been corresponding ever since.<br /><br />When I sent out a tweet about the <a href="http://auntieflamingo.blogspot.com/2010/10/book-drive-is-on.html">book drive</a> my work was doing for <a href="http://www.habitathamilton.ca/Builds/Current-Builds.aspx">Habitat for Humanity</a>, Joanne was one of the first people to pipe up. She wanted to donate some books. Fantastic! When we met we talked for a bit and I expected her to hand me a book or two. I was shocked when she hoisted up onto the table a bag FULL of YA books. Ten in all. Yes, TEN.<br /><br />After picking my jaw up off the floor, we went through the books - some even signed. I cannot believe how generous people can be for people they have never met.<br /><br />Below is a photo and a list of the books Joanne has donated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8azeyvgumc_2TnHPxOPp-cVulqVSwu080TCIrDxAi-YrFm701E_KlBsNioPYqAdFHaNhIsjwRyQ0tijWe5EYoIdnsULAvrlGLJP1J8ugYbvu9XFEdqA5SZ6kOumU-UG7a2FICYU2jtc/s1600/IMG00090-20101117-1513.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8azeyvgumc_2TnHPxOPp-cVulqVSwu080TCIrDxAi-YrFm701E_KlBsNioPYqAdFHaNhIsjwRyQ0tijWe5EYoIdnsULAvrlGLJP1J8ugYbvu9XFEdqA5SZ6kOumU-UG7a2FICYU2jtc/s400/IMG00090-20101117-1513.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540615606352698418" border="0" /></a><br /><ul><li>Radiance by Alyson Noel (x2)</li><li>Trance by Linda Gerber (x2 - 1 which is signed)</li><li>Wake by Lisa McMann (x2 - both signed)</li><li>Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook</li><li>Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (signed by Margaret Stohl)</li><li>Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King (signed)</li><li>What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook<br /></li></ul><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Joanne, thank you so much for the wonderful books. You're so generous. They look like fabulous books and I think I am going to have to go buy some of them for myself. I'm sure the families going into these HFH new homes will love them.</span><br /><br /><p>Interested in donating a book to the book drive? Please email me at <a href="mailto:auntieflamingo@gmail.com">auntieflamingo@gmail.com</a> or visit me on twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/auntieflamingo">@auntieflamingo</a> for more information.</p><p>Your help is needed. We need books for children of all ages.</p>Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-27285184131866170592010-10-20T14:15:00.006-04:002010-10-20T15:56:13.418-04:00I'm So Excited And I Just Can't Hide It!Today, I received a package filled with children's books for our <a href="http://auntieflamingo.blogspot.com/2010/10/book-drive-is-on.html">Book Drive</a> for <a href="http://www.habitathamilton.ca/Builds/Current-Builds.aspx">Habitat For Humanity Hamilton Robert Land Project (Phase 1)</a> and the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre library.<br /><br />And what is more exciting is I'm in Canada and these books were sent to me from Australia! I would like to send a huge, heart felt thanks to writer BELINDA J of Australia for sending me the following books:<br /><ul><li><div align="left">And Kangaroo Played His Didgeridoo - by Nigel Gray - illustrated by Glen Singleton</div></li><li><div align="left">When Henery Caught Imaginitis - by Nick Bland</div></li><li><div align="left">Henry and Amy (Right-way-round and upside down) - by Stephen Michael King</div></li><li><div align="left">Mutt Dog - by Stephen Michael King</div></li><li><div align="left">The Pocket Dogs - by Margaret Wild - illustrated by Stephen Michael King</div></li><li>Za-za's Baby Brother - by Lucy Cousins</li><li><div align="left">Let's Read DVD and posters<br /></div></li></ul><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530202350193587458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqyqy8-BDNIsGhczJ8lBpnWs8n92L3BOLZfAahORc3Gcl0qhKSqjWJbAksDNcG3uDYaq-IUl7q-wMHYCCicfeumkpVqndWpIfqYDwU1zOfs9TKMaj2qZ9fKlQoezObA42OgPz-9o_PJo/s400/Aus_books.jpg" /> Belinda and I only know each other through twitter. </p><p><em><strong>Belinda, I was over joyed when I received the package and overwhelmed by your generosity. One of the conditions to be met for these families to qualify for these homes is they must be prepared to contribute hundreds of hours of Sweat Equity (work on the home.) Children of the families can contribute to these Sweat Equity hours by keeping their grades up. Books, such as these, and reading will help them achieve this goal and more in life.</strong></em> </p><p>Interested in donating a book to the book drive? Please email me at <a href="mailto:auntieflamingo@gmail.com">auntieflamingo@gmail.com</a> or visit me on twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/auntieflamingo">@auntieflamingo</a> for more information.</p><p>Your help is needed. We need books for children of all ages.</p>Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-35798860560487169352010-10-03T13:50:00.004-04:002010-10-05T13:50:16.140-04:00Book Drive is ON<p>There is so much I want to tell you I'm not sure which point to start with first. If you want to jump directly to the book drive information just scroll down to the title BOOK DRIVE.<br /><br />I'll start with this: <strong>I do not like to donate money to charity!</strong><br /><br />It's true. The reason I don't like donating money is because I don't know where my money is going. Is it going to administration fees? Is it going to someone who is abusing the charity? Is someone else pocketing it before it gets where it needs to go? Is the charity actually a scam?<br /><br />I know it's a terrible thought but these things happen.<br /><br />I do want to donate and I like to volunteer so I jumped at the opportunity, through my day job, at a chance to volunteer with Habitat For Humanity on a building project in my community. There are two reasons why I wanted to help with this organization.<br /><br />1) I'm donating my time and as much or as little as I want. I know exactly where my time is going and I am doing good.<br /><br />2) The families who require the organization assistance is getting a "hand up" not a "hand out." These families have to put in “sweat equity” into their home - meaning they help build it and are taught how to maintain it.<br /><br />Ok so what does this have to do with a book drive?<br /><br />The build I'm participating in a Phase 1 consisting of 4 town home units. So far the families that had have been accepted for these home are single mothers of 3 or more children. I am a married, working mother of 2 children and I know how difficult that is financially, physically and emotionally. These mother's are raising 3 or more children on their own while working 2 or 3 jobs. I can't imagine how they do it.<br /><br /><br /><strong><u>BOOK DRIVE</u></strong><br />We have decided to hold a <strong>book drive </strong>for these families and I need your help. I am looking for children's books from infant to Young Adult. If you are interested in donating you can email me at <a href="mailto:auntieflamingo@gmail.com">auntieflamingo@gmail.com</a> and I can give you more information and where to send your books.<br /><br /><strong>AUTHORS</strong>! I have extra information for you. If you would like to donate a signed copy of your book just email me at <a href="mailto:auntieflamingo@gmail.com">auntieflamingo@gmail.com</a> and let me know. I will send you information on where to send your book. When I receive your book I will post your donation on both my blogs, <a href="http://madelinebarr.blogspot.com/" target="new">http://madelinebarr.blogspot.com/</a> & <a href="http://auntieflamingo.blogspot.com/" target="new">http://auntieflamingo.blogspot.com/</a> PLUS I have been given permission to post your donation on our HFH blog at <a href="http://cawlocal555socialjustice.blogspot.com/" target="new">http://cawlocal555socialjustice.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />So, a book for us, exposure for you and another child reading. You can't argue the importance of a child reading....can you?<br /><br />How much exposure will you get? Not sure exactly but let's put it this way:<br /><br />- Your book posted on 3 blogs<br />- I'll tweet your donation @auntieflamingo<br />- There are more than 7,800 staff at my work. More than 2000 are in the union supporting this build.<br />- The build has barely started and has been in the newspaper <s>3 times</s> 4 times as of October 5, 2010.<br />- The populations on my city is roughly 504,559<br />- You will get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you were part of something special<br /><br />I hope to get enough signed book donations to put into a special package (like a large basket or something.) I plan on handing over the signed books separately from the other books.<br /><br />One more note: I believe in Habitat For Humaity so much (now that I know more about the organization) I plan to participate in future builds after this one with my work.<br /><br />More information:<br />Habitat For Humanity Hamilton: <a href="http://www.habitathamilton.ca/Home.aspx" target="new">http://www.habitathamilton.ca</a><br />CAW Loca 555 HFH Build Blog: <a href="http://cawlocal555socialjustice.blogspot.com/" target="new">http://cawlocal555socialjustice.blogspot.com/</a><br />Habitat For Humanity Canada: <a href="http://habitat.ca/index.php" target="new">http://habitat.ca</a></p>Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8187284595785893653.post-12071295345356506352010-08-09T10:50:00.000-04:002010-08-09T10:51:02.038-04:00A Quick UpdateI have bad news and I have good news.<br /><br />The bad news I received a rejection letter from my latest submission/inquery. I was so excited about it but hey, that's the way it goes.<br /><br />The good news is I took that same manuscript and posted it to my new critique group and have received some great suggestions. I'm making changes and I will post it with the group again later. Once I'm happy with all the changes I think I am going to try to get an agent.<br /><br />So that's where I'm at. I haven't posted much because I've been busy editing my manuscript.Madeline Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405900350265157694noreply@blogger.com1