02 Feb JOYFUL JANUARY

January – a month of extraordinary life happenings. On l/6, Florida passed the Marriage Equality Act. On l/l5, Charles John Egita and I married at a lovely private ceremony at our home. A larger reception will be held the end of February. Charles and I met over forty-five years ago. It was time! Time, indeed.

We sailed on the Caribbean Princess for a five-night cruise spent in of the most incredible suites we’ve ever seen on a ship. Photos appear on my Facebook page.

February is here. I give a talk on 2/7, at the Cape Coral Public Library to “The Cape Coral Bookies” – a local writer’s group headed by Kathleen Hayes of Florida Southwestern State College. Local theatre productions abound including a staging of CABARET at The Laboratory Theatre of Florida an exciting, intimate venue.

On the professional front will be three books appearing in March. LULLABY AND KISSES SWEET (Abrams) a board book for toddlers ages 0-5 containing thirty verses all especially commissioned for the project, written by both master poets and introducing new voices.

Two paperback reprint releases are ALPHATHOUGHTS: ALPHABET POEMS (Boyds Mills Press/Wordsong) containing twenty-six verses in a form I invented. School Library Journal hailed the book as “evocative…a celebration of simplicity”; AMAZING FACES (Lee and Low) an anthology celebrating American diversity, is illustrated by incomparable Chris Soentiepiet.

I have a BIG professional announcement to make but cannot do so until mid-late February. Stay tuned!

So – it is onto tomorrows…the rest of this month and into March. Such exciting times.