Coloring Page Tuesdays - Reading Snowmen

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     Snow Day! Some of you have the white stuff. Do you like making snowmen? When we do get snow here in Georgia, they tend to be pretty short - but we love to make them too!
     Don't forget - CLICK HERE for a groundhog to color this coming Thursday for Groundhog Day!

     Click here to view the entire Coloring Page Tuesday collection.
     Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Send your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpages@dulemba.com and I'll post it to my blog! Click here to find more coloring pages.

     Learn about my Cinderella story picture book, The Prince's Diary, click the cover.

SCBWI Spring Conference Registration

Twice a year my Southern Breeze (Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi) region of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators holds a weekend conference all about breaking into children's books. This year's speakers are:
   Greg Ferguson, Editor/Art Director at Egmont USA
   Kristin Daly Rens, Sr. Editor at Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins
   Mary Kole, Associate Agent with Andrea Brown Literary
   Andy Runton, OWLY creator who will be leading a session and portfolio critiques for illustrators
   and Newbery Honor winner, Kirby Larson, keynote
Our Springmingle conference will be in Atlanta (February 24-26). If you'd like to join us - go to Southern-Breeze.net to learn more.

World Book Night 2012

World Book Night is looking for volunteers to "fan out across America on April 23, 2012! Just take 20 free copies of a book to a location in your community, and you just might change someone's life." More from their website:

World Book Night is a charity dedicated to the promotion of literacy and the celebration, sharing and enjoyment of reading amongst teenagers and adults. The first World Book Night was held in the UK in 2011. In 2012 World Book Night will be celebrated in the USA as well as the UK and Ireland on April 23 and will see tens of thousands of givers share the joy and love of reading with millions of non or light readers.

The sign up deadline is February 1st - so you'll need to get on this quickly. Go to the World Book Night website to learn more.
     I've not heard a lot of press about this - but this its an awesome idea!

Maurice Sendak on Steven Colbert

OMG. Steven Colbert recently did a two-part interview with Maurice Sendak - the creator of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, many other classic picture books, and his latest BUMBLE-ARDY. Maurice has a reputation for being rather crotchety and he's had a rough time as he's gotten older, recently losing his life partner. So, to see him in this lighter moment is SO wonderful. But be warned - this is not for kids! Bravo to Steven!

To see the interviews in their original format at Colbert Nation go to Part 1 and Part 2, respectively.

Awesome Street Art

I love when people get creative with the world around them. Here's a great collection of street art at Tout-Bon.com - "Best of Street Art 2011." (Here's an example...click the image to see more.)

Coloring Page Tuesdays - Winter Fairy

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     I'm wishing for snow. Winter in Georgia is grey. We get lots of rain and overcast skies. I wonder if there are little winter fairies somewhere working on a nice dusting of snow for us? They'd be so cute, wouldn't they?
     Click here to view the entire Coloring Page Tuesday collection.
     Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Send your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpages@dulemba.com and I'll post it to my blog! Click here to find more coloring pages.

Learn about proper parenting language and the power of choice in, Ready for Bed! , Ready for the Day!, and Ready to Play! - click the covers!

How the Newbery can change your life

Thousands of children's book creators and fans from around the world tuned in to the ALA (American Library Association) this morning to hear the announcements for the top awards in the children's book industry. The biggies this year were:
Jack Gantos, Newbery winner for DEAD END IN NORVELT
Chris Raschka, Caldecott award for A BALL FOR DAISY
John Corey Whaley won the Michael L. Printz Award for WHERE THINGS COME BACK
Kadir Nelson wond a Coretta Scott King Author and Honor Illustrator for HEART AND SOUL: THE STORY OF AMERICA AND AFRICAN AMERICANS & UNDERGROUND: FINDING THE LIGHT TO FREEDOM (respectively)
Ashley Bryan is the winner of the Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime achievement (so well deserved).
And it do go on!! Click here - at the American Libraries, ALA news to see the entire list including honor winners.

And here's a cool thing I was recently turned onto... Open Road Media is doing interviews with past Newbery winners about how the award impacted their lives, in conjunction with re-releases of the books. I wish they'd do this for everybody, but here's a start: Virginia Hamilton and Jean Craighead George...

The story of glitter

Cavemen wore glitter? I love that idea!

All That Glitters: The History of Shiny Things from Etsy on Vimeo.

Thanks to The Kid Should See This for the heads up.

We'll Miss You Etta James

Her music accompanied some of the best moments of my life. Rest in peace, Etta.

How much do authors make?

Meghan Ward recently posted her annual survey breaking down the numbers. It's a very interesting read: Author Advances: Survey Results.

Coloring Page Tuesdays - Hot Chocolate

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     Brrrrr... Winter is only just now setting in here in Georgia - which means cold and rain, rain, rain. It's actually my favorite time of year. It's a quiet time to hunker down with a hot cup of chocolate and create.

     Click here to view the entire Coloring Page Tuesday collection.
     Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Send your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpages@dulemba.com and I'll post it to my blog! Click here to find more coloring pages.

     Click the covers to learn about my picture book, Soap, soap, soap and Soap, soap, soap ~ Jabón, jabón, jabón.

Happy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Here is artwork from my latest book, THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN GEORGIA, when Ava and Jacob visit the childhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. That was research I was honored to do.

12 x 12 in 2012: Picture Book Writing Challenge

Come join me in this new challenge hosted by children's book author, Julie Hedlund, at Write Up My Life. Per her blog:

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write one picture book per month for each of the twelve months of 2012. This means a first draft: beginning, middle, end. NOT a submission-ready piece. Sounds easy right? It sounds easy to me, too. But when I looked back on my writing output from 2011, I discovered that I only completed one draft from all 30 of the PiBoIdMo ideas I came up with in 2010. I did draft, edit and revise other pieces I had in the works, but I am not content with my overall 2011 results. So I decided to challenge myself to write many more in 2012, and I figured, why not invite others to join me so we can support and encourage each other along the way?

Logo design by Linda Silvestri.

Moonbot Studios is at it again

The people at Moonbot Studios are the creators of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore and the whole studio is the dream child of William Joyce - one of the most talented picture book creators of our time. THE NUMBERLYS APP is their latest creation. It almost makes me want to move to Shreveport, Louisiana to be a part of this creative team of people. Chills, I say. CHILLS!

The Numberlys App Teaser from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

Happy Rubber Ducky Day!

Did you know it's National Rubber Ducky Day! (Along with being Friday the 13th.) I think they balance each other out, don't you?

This duckie is from my picture book SOAP, SOAP, SOAP!

The Prince's Diary... eBook!!!!

My first picture book, THE PRINCE'S DIARY (written by Renee Ting, illustrated by Yours Truly, Shen's Books) is now available as an enhanced eBook in the iBookstore! The reader has a wonderful voice and period-perfect music has been added. It's SO well done and just PERFECT! I couldn't be more excited. I hope you'll check it out!

Ira Glass on Storytelling

How many of you have made writing goals for 2012? I know I have. And it's not always easy. In fact, writing can be one of the hardest things you've ever done. But there is hope and there is help...

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Thanks to Teaching Authors for the heads up.

Visit me at Cynsations

Today (Wednesday) I visit Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog to talk about promoting and marketing your BOOK APPS. I hope you'll GO READ!!!

The Joy of Books

Do you think all bookstores do this at night?
Thanks to Elizabeth Wilson for the heads up!

Coloring Page Tuesday - Lion and Mouse

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     I love the idea of of big ones and little ones getting along - peace among beasts. It's a good message for the New Year and all year long. (And obviously a favorite theme of mine.)
Note:
     If you've clicked through to the large image to print and color, you've probably noticed the new wrapping I've added to my Coloring Page Tuesday images. They now have a header and copyright information included.
     I've had to do this to protect my images from commercial theft, which was sadly rampant in 2011 (you can read more about it here). However, I tried to do it in a way that still makes my images look fun and isn't too intrusive for my loyal followers - YOU! (Click Here to see the awesome gallery of YOUR CREATIONS.)
     So many of you have tried to protect me by alerting me to improper use of my images and I am so appreciative. Thank you for your support! Therefore, I'd love your feedback on the new wrapping so please leave a comment on the blog post or email me directly at elizabeth at dulemba dot com. As always, if you have any questions about how to properly use my images (free for personal or non-commercial use) check out my copyright guidelines. Thank you!

     Click here to view the entire Coloring Page Tuesday collection.
     Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Send your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpages@dulemba.com and I'll post it to my blog! Click here to find more coloring pages.

     Click the covers to learn about my picture book, Soap, soap, soap and Soap, soap, soap ~ Jabón, jabón, jabón.

Time lost and found

Anne Lamott on finding time to write, at "Time Lost and Found." Worth the read.

Type is Everywhere

I'm a font geek, I admit it. One of my favorite e-newsletters I get is called MyFonts.com and I collect them in my favorites folder like candy.
     I was taught to love type in college as I studied under the highly respected, international award-winning, Ron Arnholm, and I've never stopped.
     Don't think fonts are a big part of your life? Have a look...

Thanks to The Kid Should See This for the heads up!

Riley on Gender Marketing

Go Riley. I was about to write, 'I hope she grows up and changes things.' But y'know what? She's changing things right now. She speaks more sense than many adults.

Thanks to Daily Dawdle for the heads up.

Book Sculptures by Guy Laramee

Sculpting with books has become a new art form. Guy Laramee creates landscapes - amazing bookish landscapes - like this one called "Longmen." Click the image to see more of his work!

Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the heads up.

Tweetchat tonight! #KidLitPRChat

At 6:00 pm EST. Tonight's topic: Achieving Your Goals in the New Year! Hope to tweet you there!

PACO and SOAP available on NOOK COLOR!

It's a new year with new surprises. I heard from my publisher, Raven Tree Press, that the english versions of SOAP, SOAP, SOAP and PACO AND THE GIANT CHILE PLANT are now available on the Nook Color! Considering I don't have one, I hope you guys will let me know how it looks!

Coloring Page Tuesday - Kangaroo!

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     Let's leap into the new year with new promise, new possibilities and new determination!
     This coloring page was requested by Nicole and her son, whose birthday is January 4th! As Nicole said,

In Australia we celebrate on the 26th of January Australia Day - which is the arrival of the first fleet from England in 1788. Could you do a page with some Australian Animals please? Maybe a kangaroo and joey.

Here you go, Nicole - I hope you enjoy!

     By the way, the title these happy kangaroos are reading is real. It's called WHO HOPS and it's written and illustrated by my friend Katie Davis.

     Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Send your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpages@dulemba.com and I'll post it to my blog! Click here to find more coloring pages.
     Click the covers to learn about my picture book, Soap, soap, soap and Soap, soap, soap ~ Jabón, jabón, jabón.

Famous Failures

It's 2012 - let's do amazing things! Don't think you can? Watch this...