Transporting a Reader to Places Near or Far, Real or Imaginary.
Author: Sue Agauas
For thirty-nine years Sue enjoyed teaching elementary children. Having a strong love for learning and discovery, she endeavors to share these with readers of all ages. She also writes fiction and nonfiction for both middle grade and picture book readers. Nature and animals are inspiration for her books. Since the age of eight, she has been an avid equestrian and enjoys competing in the obscure discipline of dressage.
I raced through February on my annual Picture Book Marathon. Ran past the groundhog’s forecast of spring. Jogged through tales of historic Black Americans. Lingered long in expressions of love. Cheered and clapped as teams blocked and blazed their way to touchdowns. Skated, skied, twisted and twirled, with U.S. Olympians in Beijing. Shoveled snow, enjoyed unexpected puddles before they crystalized to ice. Then with a nod to past presidents’ birthdays I skid to a halt. Teetering on the edge of February 2022, I pause.
What wonders will March bring?
Batches of paczki? Emerging crocuses defying the snow? Shall I trade snowflakes for shamrocks; drifts of snow for bundles of green? Will lion-like winds lift kites wildly on high? New life emerges all around. New possibilities to explore. Clutching my newest story in hand I wonder…
Good-bye, Fantastic February. It’s time to meet Marvelous March!
Welcome 2022 Wow! Celebrating the holidays mid-January with my family was so delightful but now January is bowling into February with a striking crash!
Before we plow into the cascading snows or Valentine hearts of the coming month I’d like to recognize, one more time, the season of gift-giving.
It never is the brilliantly wrapped packages, the size or expense, that cheers my heart to trumpeting heights. Like many, it isn’t even the gifts that make the season so special. For as the years march on, it becomes more evident that things in packages are not the items at the top of my wish list.
So as the months of 2022 unfold, I resolve to continue the season of gift giving. Focusing on the most valuable and intangible gifts:
Time, available, unmeasured, unhurried. A listening ear. A helping hand. An understanding smile. A kind word. Eyes that seek for good. A heart eager to forget offenses. Love, selfless and unrestrained. Hugs in times of joy or through sorrow’s shadows. Cheers for attempts. Thanksgiving for success. Songs of beauty for the minute and mammoth.
Beneficiaries: Family, friends, the many we pass each day on streets, in stores, in travels, or neighborhood.
So, may gift-giving abound, to all and in each day of the year!
Fall greetings to all! This change of season may come with whipping winds and stormy skies. But take courage in fall’s passing beauty, for with it also comes hope and a bountiful harvest, Keep walking. Brighter days are just ahead.
NATURE’S TICKER-TAPE
Day has begun, but no sun. Begin the day’s journey unseeing the way Shoulders robed with heavy mist of dawn Sidewalk stretches endlessly Countless squares of concrete gray. One unnoticed step in front of the other Padded rhythm marches out the seconds Till the red-orange sun peeks above the horizon’s purple mountain cloud And stretches its white tentacles to the brightening sky Birds begin the melody and criss-cross before with invisible streamers They swoop and rise with cheers to treetops Joining the escalating breeze to shake nature’s confetti from the trees. Golden, floating, lightly landing on shoulders, face and path, saying well done, well done Sun reveals the truth: not just gray ahead, but golden patches checkering the way Crunchy carpet, piles of crackly brilliance, in the path and along the wayside Nature cheers in silent earnest to walk with strong step beneath the whitecap clouds on the inverted sea Inhaling the sweet breath of evergreen perfume whispering their applause Success, success, success, is yours, just walk You have become part of Nature’s ticker-tape
The 2021 BookStop opened up on October 18 and offers visitors the chance to browse over 1,000 new picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels written and/or illustrated by SCBWI members. Buying a book not only supports book creators, but indie bookstores as well. The BookStop store will be until November 30.
As a member of SCBWI, I have found the organization to be very helpful in my writing and publishing process. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is the only professional organization specifically for individuals who write and illustrate for children and young adults. Our mission is to support the creation and availability of quality children’s books in every region of the world.
This is the second year that I have shared it in the SCBWI BookStop. It feels wonderful to have reached another milestone on my journey as an author and I am very grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way.
#SCBWIBookStop 2021 is officially open. Start browsing all books here:
Thank you to all who have supported Grandma’s Sock Drawerduring these past months of competition!
It appears that your votes have carried Grandma’s Sock Drawer successfully through the first cut!
Now, Grandma’s Sock Drawer is a finalist under the Young Adult Fiction 2021 category on the Author Elite website.
You can find and vote for Grandma’s Sock Drawer on the first page of the Author Elite website. Here, voters are allowed to vote for their favorite book multiple times per day, every day, as often as you wish. All you have to do is exit the Author Elite site and your browser, re-enter and vote again.
This final round of voting closes on October 21, 2021.
Thanks for voting Grandma’s Sock Drawer into this final round of competition.
I hope you will continue to see Grandma’s Sock Drawer to a brilliant finish.
Here are some fanciful thoughts about bubbles that I wrote during the Picture Book Marathon month this past February. I hope it brings a smile to your face!
Bubbles are amazing!
They come in every size.
Teeny bubbles in a jar,
Bubbles big as grapes swirl within the kitchen sink.
From giant wand, even bubble elephants take flight.
Bubbles are like butterflies they come, but do not stay.
They float and drift upon the breeze,
and then they disappear.
Bubbles are so friendly.
They’re always up and never down.
They stay to work or play, alone or in a crowd.
Through my straw,
they scramble,
climb, and burst within my glass of milk.
I take a breath to laugh, then send them climbing up again.
I like bubbles and they like me.
They shake my hand and tickle my toes when I am in the tub.
I am excited to announce that Grandma’s Sock Drawer has been nominated for the 2021 Author Elite Awards and I would love for you to cast a vote for my book!
Please visit https://authoreliteawards.com and click on the red button that says “Vote Now” – it will take you to the voting page – once here, you will be on the 1st page for the Young Adult category (1/12), just scroll down, and click on my book cover to choose Grandma’s Sock Drawer.
You may vote daily. I greatly appreciate your support! The Author Elite Awards is sponsored by Igniting Souls in connection with the Author Elite Academy.
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