New York Fun – Surtex 2012

After months of prep work, Surtex 2012 is history.  It was a great time of meetings, and visiting with other artists.  It almost feels like a dream now that it is over.  I am filled with ideas and hope for the future!

Here is a picture of Margaret Anastas, my editor at Harper Collins, me, and Annie Stone, Margaret’s assistant.  It was so fun sitting at Harper C. and visiting with everyone who worked so hard on Peepsqueak and his promotion.  I do love my HC family.  They had a nice breakfast for me and we all met in the Harper Collins library. I wish I had a picture of Jeanne Hogle.  She was my graphic designer.  She escaped the room before I could snap her picture.

After our meeting, I packed up 30 books and headed to the Javitz Center in a doozy of a rainstorm!  I LOVED that cab driver for picking me up!!

Messing around with my friends Jane Shasky and Megan Halsey during my Peepsqueak book signing at Surtex. Everyone was in such a good mood!

Here is my teeny tiny room at the Best Western.  I was surprised at how small it was, but in the end, it was cozy and I was so glad I stayed there. It was a good retreat after a busy day.

Can’t forget my sweet agent Alicia Dauber. She had everything running smoothly!

Outside my window all the horse drawn carriages were lining up.  New York is so full of LIFE!

As amazing as the big city is, it is always nice to come HOME!   I had to get my zinnias planted!!  Now it is back to work for the next show!

Under the Pile

Under the Pile

Done, done, DONE!!  Hooray! I am done with my accounting for my business. It is NOT my favorite part of life but it must be done.  I had to learn a new software too.  As much as I dislike book work, it is a happy day when it is DONE! DONE! DONE!

Now, on to the fun stuff!

New Every Morning

My “Peepsqueak” book is all about working hard to achieve goals no matter what anyone says. There are many “Poo poo-ers” in the world. It can be quite an effort at times to move toward your dreams when there are those who stand in the way with puzzled looks on their faces or telling you how you should do some OTHER dream.

Sometimes you don’t even KNOW what you want to do.  Never fear!

There is a dream in all of us! There is something born into us that needs doing.  Many people never find that dream because it is too hard, to scary, or the Poo Poo-ers got the best of them.

“Peepsqueak” is also about brand new beginnings. He was born into the world on a brand new day. Each of us have that new beginning every morning when our feet hit the floor.  All kinds of possibilities are set before us!

This morning I met an older woman named Marion.  I was at my local coffee shop when she came up to me with a worried look on her face. She told me she missed her bus!  She had no idea what to do because her next bus did not leave town for 7 hours!   I suggested we walk over to the senior center across the park and ask around about other possibilities for travel.  During that time we got to know each other a bit. She lived in Germany for a while and traveled all over Europe with her husband. She had grandchildren and two kids.  As we talked more we realized she only missed the early bus and she could catch the second bus in an hour. (I also found out how cheap it was to take the bus! I might have to try riding the bus to see my sister sometime. It sounds like a new adventure!)

So Marion was my new twist in the day.  What did YOU do new today?  If you meet up with a Poo Poo-er, just smile, and KEEP MOVING!

History Lessons

We add to our history every day of our lives.  That history might not written on pages made of paper, but it can be found in our hearts.

Looking back on the events in our lives may help us to define who we are today or who we may become in the future. By tracking events, we may even see a pattern or a path.

Here is a picture of my 1 and only art gallery show at the Denver Children’s Museum. It did not draw big crowds, family members did not pour in to see it, but it was FUN!!!!  It drew in LITTLE crowds… tiny people.  All the art was about 18 inches above the ground!  It was all about “Fairy Tales”.  My painting was titled, “The Princess and the Pea”.  It is still one of my most favorite fairy tales.  This show was key in my journey to discover what I liked doing and that was illustrating for kids!

What history will you write on your heart today? Where is your path leading you?  Sometimes you have to rise above the mucky muck to find it.  The world is full of mucky muck, but there are always grand adventures around the corner!

“Let’s sit upon a cloud today or hop on a bird and fly away! “

 

 

 

 

Pink Kissing Cheeks!

I love her pink CHEEKS!  One of my youngest Peepsqueak fans! Don’t you just LOVE babies?

Instant Friends!

A few weeks ago I attended a CCIRA conference in Denver.    http://www.ccira.org/w/w?cmd=goconffees

I was at the conference to share my new book “Peepsqueak“,  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdllelLIRS4) but also to help promote SCBWI, The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators!  It is a wonderful organization that helps authors and illustrators figure out how to get published.

During this CCIRA conference I met three people.  Elaine Pease (http://www.peasepodbooks.com/) and Kathleen Pelley (http://www.kathleenpelley.com/) and Sarah Azibo, the RMC-SCBWI Exhibits Coordinator.  Sarah is also a writer!

We had a lot of fun talking to passersby.  We were encouraging them to attend a SCBWI event.  It was not hard to sell SCBWI.  When people find out about this group, they LOVE it! There are chapters in many states, and around the world!   (www.scbwi.org/)  Many people have told me they want to write a children’s book.  Step 1….. join SCBWI!

During this CCIRA conference we also had time to compare notes about our businesses.  It was great fun!!  Kathleen is from Scotland.  Sarah and I loved sitting and listening to her talk! We all braved the winter storm to attend the conference but it was worth it!!

Firsts!

Today’s blog is about FIRSTS!  1sts! 1sts!!! 1sts!!!!  Our lives our full of them!

Hmmmmm….. as I recall,  first step, first tooth, first day of school, first dental appointment, first friend, first spanking, first boyfriend (mine was in kindergarten, he made me laugh and laugh!), first report card, first sleepover, first D, first F ( I know, some of you have never experienced those last two), first dance, first date, first job, first day at second job, first time fired from job with others to follow.., first day at college, first day at second college, first time on probation at college (I know… some of you have never had that unique experience either), first time meeting your husband or wife), first wedding (and only wedding… thankfully!) , first time being a parent, first time diagnosed with a learning disability, first attempt at my own cleaning business, first time quitting my cleaning business after 27 years, first time watching three daughters all leave home for college, first time marrying off three daughters!, first time being a grandparent, first time losing a parent, first time earning a living with art! (AT LAST!), first book with Harper Collins, first book signing at Barnes and Noble!

Yeah, can you see a pattern here?  Not all firsts are fun ones, but all firsts do eventually lead to fun firsts if you keep at it! Each experience makes you uniquely YOU. The bad 1sts can either hone you or wreck you.  The decision is yours.

My faith tells me to keep moving.  My faith tells me NOT to let experiences dictate who I am.  For me, this is not a vague faith in some mystic aura loaded transient do da day. I am not deep enough for that. . . or perhaps I am too deep for that?  Ha!  My faith?  ..in Jesus. He is the only one who knows how to put all these crazy pieces of life together to make sense and then pull off something I could not do on my own.  Pretty amazing eh?  I think so, but then again, it is not time to sit and bask in my own wonderfulness. haha… gotta keep moving forward and keep life fresh!  Keep faith’s fire burning!

Do I feel another book in me? … or … wait! … is that my pencil moving? .. is another character ready to appear on a page? Ooh…. how exciting!  Being an artist is so doggone fun!!!

My Grandkids liked it . . . .

When you write a children’s book and are trying to convince an editor of its great merits, a big no-no is to say, “…my children (or grandchildren) loved it!”.   I could certainly understand that one might not get an honest answer from letting their Aunt Elsie read the story, (she may not want to hurt your feelings) or your mother who thinks you can never go wrong, but children are without reserve. If they don’t like a story, they will tell you about it!

This past summer when Harper Collins mailed me the galley of my Peepsqueak book I read it to my grandsons. I did not even think twice about what their reactions would be. To my surprise, one of them laughed out LOUD!  This is when I realized that what little kids think is truly the best judge of whether or not a picture book is good. There is no convincing children.  They form their opinions early on, even before they can talk!

Many times we shudder at the books our kids want to read over and over! If you write for children, it is important that you find out why those little people feel so compelled as to memorize the pages. They will often times pipe up with, “Mommy, you missed a page!” and you must stop and go back.

My own kids loved a good story but they were also drawn into a book because of the illustrations.

It is my hope that children will see Peepsqueak and then be drawn into the story, rooting him on to full-fill his dream!

For now, I can tell you this, My grandsons liked it!!

CHECK IT OUT!

Reading to Nolie!

In December, Auryn launched two apps with my two Newton Stories. I sat with my grandson reading the apps just a few days later. What an amazing thing! Presto! A story that talks!

Winter Does Not Last Forever!

Just when you think winter will last forever, all the snow melts giving way to green grass and flowering plants.  I often like to go back and look at my summer pictures to remember the warm days.  It’s only a couple of months until Spring!!!!

 

It’s AMAzing!

After snow fall measuring more than 4 inches I find that I MUST shovel pathways for my tiny doggies.  You can see in this picture the maze that I made for my dogs.  Rosie is in the middle of the picture… We have about a foot of snow in the backyard.  The dogs LOVE running through the maze.  It makes me smile.

Why do I do it?  Why not?

What a Week!

We are so glad it is Sunday!  Peepsqueak needed a break from all his travels and his book debut.

Thanks to everyone for voting on the two Peepsqueak plush.  Amazingly enough it was a tie.  I shared the voting with Harper Collins and I am sure Merry Makers will come out with a wonderful finished product.

Peepsqueak books hit the stores on Tuesday. My dear friends across the country sent sightings via emails and texts.  It was great fun!  This one came all the from Seattle!   Tomorrow begins another busy week. Peepsqueak’s first book signing is a conference in Denver. I am sure it will be fun!

VOTING for Peepsqueak

Today a new Peepsqueak came in the mail.  I have to decide which one I like the best.  The one on the right is the new one. He is chubby and the pile is short.  The one on the left is more shaggy and his body is softer and squishy. Which one do YOU like best? Do you have any comments?

WELCOME to the WORLD of BOOKS Peepsqueak!  Today is your day!  Today your book has been released for kids of all ages to see!

Harper Collins has been a wonderful partner in the production of Peepsqueak’s first book. I am including links to Peepsqueak’s page at Harper Collins in this blog post.  There are fun activities for the kids, and an awesome trailer!  I hope you all enjoy the new “Peepsqueak” book. I must say, he inspires me to always keep MOVING!!!

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Peepsqueak-Leslie-Ann-Clark/?isbn13=9780062078018&tctid=100

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Peepsqueak-Leslie-Ann-Clark/?isbn13=9780062078018&tctid=100

Peepsqueak is Coming to America!

Yes friends, as most of you know, Peepsqueak has been off and running overseas before his book debut in NY City on Tuesday!  He is so excited!  So far he has been to  China, Paris, Holland, England, Egypt and now Italy.  We will see where he ends up tomorrow.  He is ON THE MOVE!!!

Stay posted!

Leslie

Nosey!

My nose is running!  I have been sitting on the couch all day!! Sometimes it is okay to be lazy.  The body needs a little TCL. I am not used to being in slow motion.

Peepsqueak is ON THE MOVE!

“Ik kom!”

“Bonjour”

“Je viens!”

7 MoRe dAyS !

If Peepsqueak is coming in 7 days, where is he NOW?

niNe MOre dAyS!

Nine more days!  He is COMING!!!

Left side:  Brand new Peepsqueak.   Right side:  Well loved Peepsqueak belonging to grandson.