Dragon Rider Nina Crittenden and a Prize!

As I was in the process of asking people to join Smart Dummies I realized that there were not enough dragons in the event nor were there enough diners. In order to save the event from being a complete disaster I knew there was only one person to call: Nina Crittenden. She had a fabulous journey getting her books published. Though she does not say so here: Nina did it all while riding on the back of a dragon.
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In April of 2010, I sent out a postcard with this image on it:

In September of 2012 (five postcards later), I was delighted to receive an email from a publisher on my mailing list:

“Is there a story you’re working on, by chance, with Mel and his diner? We loved the art piece…”

There wasn’t a story yet, of course, so I started writing one (trying to keep all the things in mind that everyone tells you to as far as having consistent characters, proper pacing, great page turns, etc…). It took me a really long time to get it ready to send out. In April of 2013, I finally submitted it to the publisher who had contacted me. I hoped that she would love Mel, Flip, Darla, Ralph, and Stella as much as I did.

I showed a very dear friend of mine my dummy and he said he thought I was ready to submit my work to an agent. He asked his agent (whom I held in the highest esteem and hoped to submit to someday) if she would consider looking at my work, and she said yes! I was thrilled and quickly sent her off a letter, my dummy, and a ton of postcards. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

One month later, my dummy returned to me in the mail from the publisher with a very nice letter that included the following sad part:

“Unfortunately, after careful consideration, we do not feel that we could be successful with your work.”

I was crushed. Absolutely crushed. Still sad about it to this day, the truth be told. But I loved my characters so I made a new postcard for them that I was really proud of.

In the end, my dummy wasn’t ready for publication, but it helped me connect with a fabulous agent, and for that I will be forever grateful. I signed on with Teresa Kietlinski of Prospect Agency in August of 2013 and have since illustrated a picture book called Chicken Lily that will be published by Henry Holt in March of 2016. I am also happy to report that I currently have some board book dummies out on submission that have been getting some very nice rejections and a couple nice nibbles, so I am typing this right now with my fingers crossed.

Keep drawing, keep writing, every cloud has a silver lining

Website http://www.ninacrittenden.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NVCrittenden

Cedric and The Dragon:http://www.amazon.com/Cedric-Dragon-Elizabeth-Raum/dp/1934617059/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440215893&sr=8-1&keywords=Cedric+and+the+dragon

http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Lily-Lori-Mortensen/dp/1627791205/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440081558&sr=8-1&keywords=chicken+lily

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PRIZE

One lucky winner will get a copy of "Cedric and the Dragon" Written by Elizabeth Raum and Illustrated by Nina Crittenden!

Five Minute Poem

This poem was created to fulfil this prompt from Shannon's 100 Days of Summer. http://www.shannonabercrombie.com/sensory-sunday/

Five Minutes Outside

Outside in my pink pajamas.

I'm glad David's at his Grandma's

Everywhere signs that spring has sprung

(I'm just hoping I don't get stung.)

Sitting on a hard wooden bench

I'm not sure what made that stench

Leaves blowing softly in the wind

Bugs crawling all over my skin

Softly chirping birds all the birds sing

Roaring engines hush everything

Warm sun is shining on my back

Dumb cat screaming she wants a snack

No more coffee in my brown cup

Oh look, my five minutes are up!

Very Sick Today

Very Sick Today

I`m very sick today
I want to hide away
Under blankets so warm
I just want to inform:
I want to be alone
(So you don`t hear me moan)

This poem is loosely based on a true story.

What I Was Going to Say

What I Was Going to Say

I can't remember what I was going to say
I think it had something to do with today
Maybe tomorrow I'll remember what's what
Now I've forgotten, so I'll keep my mouth shut.

Tired Eyes

Tired Eyes

My eyes wont let me see
I try to beg and plea
But I can't count to three
Before they close on me

An Apple

An Apple

Pretty apple in a tree
Hanging, swinging, oh so free!
So shiny, round, sweet and red
I'd rather have pear instead!

On My Head

On My Head

My parent's always said
I shouldn't stand on my head
I don't know can be done
On your feet that's so much fun.

My Sippy Cup

My Sippy Cup

My sippy cup is orange and blue
I love it so, this much is true
And when I turn it upside down
My milk spills and I splash around
Then mommy comes to clean it up
Oh no, I lost my sippy cup!

My Sweet Dreams

My Sweet Dreams

My sweet dreams are funny things

Filled with pink cats on tall springs

Lions and bears skate on ice

Elephants carried by mice

Dogs hiding in small key holes

Frogs flying out of control

Tiny pigs dancing with grace

Huge mice don't seem out of place

Turtles faster than a hare

Wales smaller than a mare

Polka-dot birds wearing shoes

Glowing white fish in canoes 

When I think I've seen it all

Right out of bed do I fall

Haikus For The Seasons

Spring

Fragrant flowers
Running in a field of green
When will this rain end?

Summer

Warm sun on my back
Waves splashing on sparkling sand
My skin is sunburnt

Autumn

Brightly coloured leaves
Gently carried in the breeze
Soon there will be snow

Winter

Softly falling snowflakes
People Dancing on the ice
I miss my warm bed

Missing Spring

Missing Spring

All of this cold rain
A bit of fog and some snow
Please come back soon, sun

I Forgot

I had written these around 10pm tonight while I was waiting for my husband so I could drive him home from work. I was happy because I had been worried I wouldn't have anything to post, and then I forgot to make the post when I got home. I'm going to go to bed tonight and not forget to post in the morning.

I Forgot

I forgot something.
I think it was important.
Maybe not? Oh, well!

I Remembered

I'm so happy now.
I remembered something good!
Forgot what it was.

Because I Didn't Have Time

Today I didn't have time to come up with anything new. So today I'm going to post something I wrote back in University (all those many, many years ago). Note: It may have taken me longer to find this than it would have to come up with something new, oh well!


In Session

Read
          Quickly
Write
           Slowly
Sit
           Quietly
Snore
           Softly
Hear
            Deftly
Speak
            Timidly
Sketch
            Secretly
Leave
            Willingly
Stumble
            Slightly

Knowing tomorrow you will do it all again.

Cold Poetry

Cold

I do not like this thing called cold
It makes me mean (or so I'm told).
My fingers and toes feel like ice
I can't get warm and that's not nice
I shiver and shake all day long
I can't even play and that's wrong
Blanket-wrapped the winter I'll spend
No more to say: this is the end

Jumping

Jumping

Jumping, jumping in the air
Flying high without a care
Someday, someday down I'll fall
Maybe soon or not at all

For My Son on His Birthday

My son David turned two today. Though I don't think it's quite finished I wanted to share this poem I wrote for him.


For David

Oh my lovely little boy
Your sweet presence is a joy
You wake me up every day
Crack of dawn so you can play
Can't climb up there but you still try
Jump from high though you can't fly
Every day you make a mess
(The floor I see less and less)
You build great towers with blocks
Then down again you will knock
You love to scream oh so loud
Then dart into the mall crowd
That book we read once or twice
Every night (and that one thrice)
Even though you are quite wild
I love you my David child

My Cat

My Cat

My Cat
She's Fat
And that's that

Haiku Hello

Hello

Hi, hello, good day!

It's good to see you again.

Let's not be strangers.

I am working on getting more time to work on my artwork. My time is limited at best, so I'm trying to make the most of it. I really could be posting more, but it's difficult getting back into a routine after stopping!  In any case I will be posting more often now. I will likely be changing things up, especially to make up for the lack of artwork I'll be able to show. I'm not sure of most things, but I do know that my Art Technique Website day will likely be changing to My Favourite Children's Book day. 

Fishy Questions

Little fishy swimming there:

Do you find the water fair?

What do you do all day?

How with fins do you play?

Can you dive the waters deep?

Are you able to sleep?

Where do you lie your head?

Why are you eyes so red?

Want to go play with my toys?

Who's making too much noise?

Ball Haiku

Balls, balls, everywhere
bouncing and rolling, what fun.
Look, I caught a ball!