14 May MID-MAYING

MAY!  Or where did April go?  I had a wondrous birthday, celebrated with family and a host of great friends.

I so enjoyed my first SKYPE interview with the effervescent, Renee La Tulippe — one who truly does her homework.  Since the piece aired in late April, Renee counted over 1200 hits.  Now on youtube it continues to be seen.  If you missed it go to www.nowaterriver.com   While at the site enjoy many of Renee’s series of poets and poetry.

Final plans are being firmed up for the Edison State College Lee Bennett Hopkins Writers Institute to be held October 26.

Featured speakers – two people close to my heart — will be here — Patricia MacLachlan and Stephen Alcorn who recently illustrated my MARY’S SONG (Eerdmans).  Stephen and I have done a host of books together. I’ve known Patty for eons.  It will be like ‘ol’ home week!’

Although ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE won’t be released until August, I should be getting a bound copy prior to publication dae.  This YA collection based on a Shakespeare monologue from AS YOU LIKE IT is set in seven acts — from “Entrances” to “Exits”.  Startling, stylized paintings by Guy Billout mesh poetry — old and new — from J. Patrick Lewis to Lewis Carroll, Walt Whitman to Janet Wong — bringing the genre to new dimensions.

May 22, I will be doing a SKYPE interview for the Highlights Foundation with their workshop leader, the extraordinary Rebecca Kai Dotlich.

I have also become one of three Judges for the 2013 GOLDEN KITE AWARD PICTURE BOOK TEXT.

Writing life continues with all its highs and lows, disappointments and joys. Being a writer is BEING a writer, facing the unknown, then, boom! opening the door to unexpected surprise.

I guess all the world is a stage.  The trick is to stay on it.

Onto tomorrows…