Linda Zajac

Wow, have things picked up.  I was quite happy to hear back from the NESCBWI about volunteering at the conference this year.  After much thought, I've decided to go for the full three days, but I'll drive up daily with my writing group.  This year they have among many other things, a nonfiction academy where each participant brings either a completed picture book or a full manuscript for middle grades.  The problem here is that I don't have either.  It's impossible for me to try and finish my mid grade manuscript and do a decent job of it in such a short time, so I've decided to turn an existing piece into a picture book since I've already done the research.  While thinking about this, I came up with an intriguing idea for a picture book format.  I have to think about it some more, but it's definitely a unique idea.

When I returned home from my writing group meeting on Tuesday, I was delighted to rip into some mail that turned out to be a contract for an article in Highlights!  In other promising news, a query has also generated interest in a rough draft.

I also participated in a webinar for the CT Climate Change Education and Communication Group (good lord, those folks need a less cumbersome name).  The woman that heads up the group emailed my ChemMatters article about climate science to 98 people in this group.  Yowzy!

     When I stopped at Weir Farm National Historic Site this past weekend, I was delighted to see this table inviting visitors to sketch on the grounds.  I simply could not resist.  Since it was bitter cold and probably about 15 degrees (high temp 21, low temp 9), I sketched with thick ski gloves and a hat on.  The top photograph was a photo taken while I was sitting on a rock.  The bottom photograph was my interpretation of the scene.  I consciously thought about not putting that rock wall in the middle of the sketch and that's exactly where it landed.  Despite nearly freezing to the stone, I really enjoyed myself exploring a new place.