Writing Workshop

Well, I am back from doing school visits in the Rio Grande Valley. I conducted several writing workshops for the fourth and fifth graders and their enthusiasm was great. I was amazed at the stories they came up with and the fascinating titles.  They are aspiring authors.

I also attended the Region One ESC conference in South Padre Island where I met librarians from so many different districts. After I got back, I did a Storyfest here in San Antonio for children and adults during a literacy event.

I am proud to have been included in an analogy in a book titled, Latina Authors and Their Muses. Around forty Latina authors were interviewed for this book by author Mayra Calvani and published by Twilight Times Books. It is available in the Kindle Edition at Amazon.com and will be out in paperback in December 2015.

Some of my poetry was also published in  Art Heals Hearts, The Power of Expression, sponsored by The Ecumenical Center, in San Antonio, Texas. So you see, I have been quite busy. Now back to work!

School Visit

It’s that time of year again. School visits! My schedule is filling up fast. I like doing school visits because the students’ reactions to my books and writing process energize me. These students inspire me to keep on writing. This is what it’s all about for me. Literacy and reading for pleasure as well. Reading is fun!

Do you sometimes struggle with your writing whether it’s just getting the novel done or dealing with rejections? Here’s an interesting article by author Jenny Martin. She was interviewed on the Writer’s Digest blog, Guide to Literary Agents, by Chuck Sambuchino. The title of the article is “4 Pieces of Advice for Struggling Writers.” Martin lists the four: if you’re struggling to succeed (1) you’re in good company, (2) write the next book, (3) you need to get back up, and (4) you’ll be prepared when you DO succeed.

” I think [a good book] all starts with passion—a subject the author is passionate about exploring, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.”  — James Cross Giblin