And the Winner is...

I've said it before and I will say it again. As an aspiring author it is important to learn how to wait. For six weeks I have been hunting and waiting on an agent's response. I am waiting on Penquin editor, Stacey Barney, to share her thoughts about WALKING THE DOG. Recently, I applied for a Tennessee Arts Commission Grant so I am also waiting to hear if the state will award me one of the $5000 prizes. They have ten to give away. Hey! Who couldn't use $5000 in this tight economy? In advance I am making plans as to how I will spend the money. Right off the bat I think I will contribute $500 to Caritas Village. They help the neighbors and children living in Memphis' Binghampton area. Onie Johns is the coordinator there. She has organized art, dance and wellness workshops for the community. Caritas also houses a cafe that serves gourmet sandwiches and homemade soups. Yum! If a hungry soul stumbles into the cafe without money they are allowed to eat. Many non-profit organizations use Caritas as a meeting place. The walls are covered with art by Frank D. Robinson, Jr. and Darlene Newman. There are an abundance of books in the cafe for your leisure reading. There are an assortment of board games too. Know what? In a season of peril and darkness, Caritas is a light. So as I move through this day I pray to win that art sweepstakes! Read more about Caritas Village at the link below. http://www.memphismagazine.com/gyrobase/Magazine/Content?oid=oid%3A34061

Nobody Loves a Genius Child

I am in a quandary. I let a particular editor read my manuscript. From her professional vantage point she thought WALKING THE DOG was comical and completely relatable. However, she did not see it as a contender with books like JUNIE B. JONES and CLEMENTINE. Now, I love Junie B. and Clementine. They are a hoot! However, my book was not written to be a contender with these texts. WALKING THE DOG revolves around Fitzhugh Edmund "Big Main" Davis. He is a fat fourth grader full of tenacity and grit. He is smart but doesn't want to be perceived as anyone's "Big-Butt-Brainiac!" I wrote this book to inspire reading and academic excellence among inner-city youth who are often taunted because of their genius. The October 2008 issue of NEA TODAY reports that kids like Big Main don't raise their hands in class. They don't answer questions or they pretend to be dumb because peers often tease them and accuse them of "acting white." As a writer I decided to attack this illness with my creativity. It shouldn't hurt to be smart. Such a self-defeating psychology should not exist. How did it even get to be this way? It doesn't really matter now. I AM the antidote!

Art Work is a Steal (FOR NOW)

Darlene Newman is a young Memphis illustrator who has developed and refined her artistic style over the years. She gets better and better with time. And right now, her work remains affordable. But if you wait another year or so, your 9 to 5 won't allow you to purchase her larger pieces. As a children's author I am especially taken with her illustrations that make some comment about education. I have always believed that she would make a great illustrator for children's books. Her work is innocent and playful but also contemplative. You can view some of Darlene's work at http://www.thepinkroomstudio.com/. She's never expressed an interest in illustrating book covers and books for children but I'm sure in time she will be discovered by some editor in the industry. What city do you live in and who are some of your favorite local artists? Here in Memphis I am a Darlene Newman fan. I own pieces by Frank D. Robinson, Morris Howard, Carl Moore and Wiley Henry. I am also a big George Hunt fan too. But I can hardly afford to look at his work. George Hunt is WAY out of my reach when it comes to affordability. But one day, my "change" is gonna come and I WILL buy me a George Hunt too!