Big Chill 2019

It’s October already?

Spooooky in City Park

Here in New Orleans, it still feels like August, temps in the 90s with 70-90% humidity. Good weather for staying inside, reading and writing. I did get away to Percy Quin State Park for a personal weekend writing retreat, where the mornings were in the 70s and the sunsets were glorious.

Sunset over the lake at Percy Quin State Park

Over the past couple of months, I finished an application and portfolio for a residency in Italy (fingers crossed!!) and a draft of my novel, plus book reviews of Black Leopard, Red Wolf and Story Genius that I’m planning to post soon. Check out my Goodreads feed for other recent books I’ve enjoyed (or not). Now I’m working on a brand-new novel about monsters in Wisconsin. Feeling pretty accomplished!

Tomorrow I head off to Canton, Mississippi for the Big Chill Retreat for creators of books for kids, hosted by the Louisiana/Mississippi chapter of SCBWI. I am SO looking forward to a weekend immersed in writing, creating, learning, and camaraderie. Each time I attend this annual retreat, I come home newly inspired by the amazing people I’ve been fortunate to get to know over wine and stories. Can’t wait!

Most everybody from Big Chill 2018. I’m in the back row, 6th from the right! Photo from the LA/MS SCBWI Big Chill webpage.