“Write hard and clear about what hurts.” – Ernest Hemingway
The featured image, Matera, Italy, is the setting, or at least the inspiration for my new picture book, Samba in Italy.
1. Writing Progress: My young adult novel is progressing slowly. I have completed 15,000 words on my draft manuscript. Typically, a young adult novel ranges in length from 60,000 to 90,000 words. My daily writing streak continues with 24 out of 30 days. This includes my morning pages routine, which remains strong.
2. Reading and Research: Finished 2 craft books: Save the Cat; The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need. By Blake Snyder, and On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King.
Studied 2 novels in the young adult genre: Tales of the Samurai: Stories Illustrating Bushido, the Moral Principles of the Japanese Knighthood by Asataro Miyamori, and by
3. Writing Community: This Saturday, I am one of the vendors/book sellers at the Writers Community of York Region’s York Writers Conference. This will be my first time attending this event and I am looking forward to making new connections and learning from industry pros.
Perhaps I can learn how to land an agent, what publishers seek in manuscripts, how to navigate the ever-evolving literary landscape, and more or at least that is the plan.
4. Professional Development: Updated my first published book, Samba on a Snowy Day. This will be the 2nd edition and it has some very minor changes to the design.
My membership in the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts, BMFA, came up for renewal and I rejoined with a family plan. I’m pleased to announce I was accepted to exhibit at the 2025 Outdoor Collingwood Art Market, presented by the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts in partnership with Creative Simcoe Street!
“This year, we received over 70 applications, and we’re thrilled to welcome such a dynamic and talented group of artists to help us kick off BMFA’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. Due to the high number of participating exhibitors, Simcoe Street will be closed to traffic to accommodate a full outdoor art market experience. Event Details — Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.”
5. Goals for May: Complete my collaboration with artist-illustrator Joshua Miller on our new children’s picture book, Samba in Italy.
Submit my early reader chapter book to a literary agent looking for children’s authors.
Begin outlining a new short story collection. Perhaps this will be under my pseudonym to avoid confusing my fans of children’s literature. These short stories are darker and contain more mature content.
Thank you for reading. If you know of someone who may be interested in this Monthly Journal, please share. Be sure to check out my newest book, Life on the Beaver River, an early reader chapter book. All my books are readily available online through your favorite bookstores.
Be well, stay safe, and keep reading and writing.
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