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SOLC2019: #25 JambaLAya Kidlit Conference Part one

March 25, 2019 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

Over the weekend I attended the JambaLAya Kidlit Conference in New Orleans put on by the SCBWI Louisiana/ Mississippi region.  I am still such a novice in the field of children’s publishing.  I learned so much as well as networked with friends, new and old.

One of the perks of a regional conference is the agents and editors who attend offer to accept unsolicited submissions following the conference. This is both good and bad.  Good because I can polish up a manuscript and send it off.  Bad because I can polish up a manuscript and send it off.

Academy of the Sacred Heart, New Orleans.

The conference took place at The Academy of Sacred Heart in uptown New Orleans on St. Charles Ave.  The building breathes of history and catholic girls.  The library had many nooks for students to tuck into to read (and editors to critique).  I was welcomed by authors such as Angie Thomas and Jason Reynolds folded out on the librarian’s desk.

I signed up for a critique from editor Catherine Frank.  She sat sweetly in the corner of the library.  I took a deep breath and tried to relax.  Maybe I tried too hard to relax because the conversation with Catherine was easy and fun.  We laughed.  We shared our love of musicals.  Wow!  She had tickets to Hamilton for that night! And she told me she adored verse novels.

Then she said I had to make some changes if I wanted it to sell.  The breath caught in my throat.  I don’t know if I can do that.

“Of course you can.  You’re a good writer.”

She had me in the palm of her hand.  The teacher pleaser in me will go back to the manuscript (Did I mention I’ve been writing this one off and on for 10 years?), and  make the g.d. revisions.  I’ll let you know if I get a book deal.  It may take another 10 years, though.

This book writing business is hard work.  A Louisiana author and friend, Johnette Downing, reminded us, in her wonderful presentation about writing “From the Roots Up: Culture as Character,” that we are in the service of children.  A little poem from her talk:

Be the river.
Write what you know.
Write what you love.
Let the river flow.

The conference experience was too big for one post, so I think I’ll write part two tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged , , | 13 Comments »

SOLC2019: #24 Silent Super Moon

March 24, 2019 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

March Super Moon
Photo by Margaret Simon

I am your silent super moon
I light the equinox sky
I touch the tips of trees
I hear nocturnal owls
I whisper secrets to your soul.

I am your silent super moon
I tell the myths of constellations
I cry tears for fading Earth
I pretend to keep my eyes on you.
I pull tides of ocean waves.

I am your silent super moon.
I wonder if I’m magical
I play hide-n-seek with stars
I carry your wishes in my moondust
Sprinkle heaven with hope.
I am your silent super moon.

(c) Margaret Simon

This poem came to me in stages beginning with my morning walk with the super moon earlier this week.  I was reminded of this form when Elisabeth Ellington used it to write a response poem to the first poem in my book Bayou Song, I am a Beckoning Brown Bayou. I’ve used the form with students and adults in writing workshops.  Here is a template for the form.  If you use it to create your own poem or have students respond, let me know.  I love to share how Bayou Song inspires on my book Facebook page. 

Posted in Bayou Song, Photography, Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged , | 13 Comments »

SOLC2019: #23 Making Music

March 23, 2019 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

Bach Google Doodle screen shot

Did you see the Google doodle on Thursday and Friday?  To celebrate Johann Sebastian Bach’s birthday, Google had an app for writing music.

I come from a musical background.  My mother has her masters in piano and taught lessons for many years.  My brother got the talent in his fingers and still makes a living as a professional musician.

Me? I gave up piano after high school, but I can still read music and sing in the church choir.  But I’ve never written music before. That is, until Thursday.

In my last group of students, Madison and I played around with the doodle and discovered we could save a link and return to the song we created.  Of course, we also had to write words to go with our songs, all of which proved to be harder than you would think.

I introduced this idea to my first group on Friday morning.  We had to borrow headphones from the computer lab because all that composing going on in one room was enough to drive you crazy.

I was fascinated by how challenging this was for my kids.  They spent at least an hour on it and would have gone longer, but it was a gorgeous spring day, so I shooed them out for recess.

Here is a link to a tune I created for the words “When I sing this lovely song, I feel a sense of pride.

My students posted theirs on our kidblog site here. 

Who would think that you could build a whole class activity around a Google Doodle? Technology never ceases to amaze me.

Posted in Slice of Life, Teaching, Writing | Tagged , , | 14 Comments »

SOLC2019: #22 Air Lifted

March 21, 2019 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

Poetry Friday round-up is with Rebecca at Sloth Reads.

On Thursday morning, I got some shocking and scary news.  My good friend who is battling cancer was air lifted to a larger, more equipped hospital.  A message went out asking for prayers.

I recalled being air lifted almost 34 years ago when my then 4 month old daughter went into heart tachycardia.  The medics placed me on the gurney and then laid her on top of me.  As the helicopter beat through the air, my attention went to prayer.  As I prayed begged, I remember feeling a physical presence with me, an actual laying on of hands, and my daughter’s heartbeat slowed.  When we arrived at Oschner Hospital in New Orleans, the doctors there explained that her heart was responding to an infection in her body; it was not her heart.  She had pneumonia.  Now, she is the mother of a near 4 month old herself, so this memory is close.

Laura Purdie Salas posts an image and prompt ever Thursday for “15 words or less.”  Her image Thursday was a rescue helicopter from the Coast Guard Monument in DC.  This was my poem:

First Flight

Steady drumming beat
of my heart against hers
matching the rhythm
to helicopter rotors–
Life!

When we write together in my classroom, we often use quotes.  Thursday morning I looked on my Wonder app and found this quote.

The Daily Wonder App

In my notebook I wrote a prayer poem:

Oh clouds!
You are so necessary for life, but
if you don’t mind, please
move aside.
Let sun’s light
shine on Amy.
Bring her out of darkness
into hope.

Oh clouds!
We are helpless to move
you out of the way.
We send smoke signals,
wave wands, dance in a circle,
all to overcome your gloom.
Show us the sun today.
Show us the way to hope.

–Margaret Simon

Amy is getting the care she needs, but if you are the praying type, it wouldn’t hurt to add her name to your list.  Thanks!

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged , , | 18 Comments »

SOLC2019: #21 What’s in a Name?

March 21, 2019 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

Vernal Equinox on the Bayou Teche.

Begin with the source,
Lore told again and again,
ancient words from native people–
Teche,
Tesh,
Snake

Water runs through it
brown bayou mud
bound by an ever-eroding shore
Teche,
Tesh,
Snake.

Sun sets on vernal equinox
sends rays of light across
cypress trees reflected in still water
Teche,
Tesh,
Snake.

–Margaret Simon

Reflections

The name of my blog originates with the bayou that runs behind my house.  Bayou Teche was so named for an ancient Native American legend that the warriors battled a huge snake for days, and in finally killing it, the giant serpent created a waterway through where it lay.  The Bayou Teche meanders back and forth for 125 miles.

We recently joined the T.E.C.H.E. Project, Teche Ecology, Culture and History Education, a nonprofit with a mission to improve the Bayou Teche for recreation as well as for ecosystem health.  One of the perks of membership is the gift of a mile marker.  Our house is at mile 69.4.  We plan to mount the marker on our wood duck house, but we will wait until Eve, our resident mother, finishes her nesting.

The name of my blog has significance to me. It reflects the place where I live along with my own internal reflections about teaching and writing.  Literal and figurative reflections on the Teche.

Posted in Photography, Poetry, Slice of Life, Travel, Writing | Tagged , | 12 Comments »

SOLC2019: #20 I’m in Love Found Poem

March 20, 2019 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

I’ve been following Elisabeth Ellington’s blog for at least 4, maybe 5 years.  We’ve actually met in person a few times at NCTE, and when we’ve had occasion to sit next to each other, we talk incessantly like two introverts in the sea.  Elisabeth lives in South Dakota, far north from Louisiana.  Nevertheless, we connect over our love of nature.  Yesterday on her blog the dirigible plum, she wrote a post with the title, “What did you Fall in Love with Today?”

As I read her post, a poem began to write itself in my head.  I could connect emotionally to all that she wrote.  I didn’t know anything about pronghorn, so I did a Google search (something else that Elisabeth mentions loving) and found this information on the National Wildlife Federation site.

Pronghorn are one of North America’s most impressive mammals. Not only do pronghorn have the longest land migration in the continental United States, they also are the fastest land animal in North America. Pronghorn can run at speeds close to 60 miles an hour. Even more amazing than its speed is the pronghorn’s migration. Herds of pronghorn migrate 150 miles each way between Wyoming’s Upper Green River Basin and Grand Teton National Park. The only other land animal to travel farther in North America is the caribou.

I’m in Love
found poem from Elisabeth Ellington’s Slice of Life

I’m in love
with the moon
over snow-covered hills
white,
then yellow.

I’m in love
with clouds
before sunrise
Venus bright
in the East.

I’m in love
with a field of pronghorn
lying in the snow
legs curled beneath
for warmth.

I’m even in love
with this open parking spot
right in front
of my favorite coffee shop.

I’m in love
with warm fires,
curled up cats,
and always,
every day
with my mug
of coffee.

What do you love today?

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments »

SOLC2019: #19 Legally Blonde: The Musical

March 19, 2019 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

Katelyn Gulotta as Elle Woods

I am not a theatre critic, but I do enjoy a good musical.  Our local little theatre, IPAL (Iberia Performing Arts League) is in its production of Legally Blonde: The Musical.  I attended  the matinee on Sunday afternoon.

IPAL has a reputation for producing top-notch musicals, and this year’s is one of the best.  It wasn’t just the singing that was good (it was!) or the orchestra’s sound (amazing!) or the choreography (spot on!), it was the coming together of a team of actors to create a most entertaining experience.  I laughed until I cried!

Scene after scene, the play drew me in.  IPAL is not called “Broadway on the Bayou” for no reason.  These volunteers who practiced night after night delivered, and made me feel I was right there with them on stage.  I was glad, however, that I was not chosen from the audience to try a bend and snap, but the precious twenty-something next to me was.

You know that a play has totally drawn in the audience when the main character Elle is proposed to by the jerk ex-boyfriend, someone yells, “No!”

All of the acting was good, but I was impressed with how Katelyn, who played Elle, handled the transformation from a giddy sorority girl to a serious lawyer seamlessly.

You should make time this weekend to attend IPAL’s Legally Blonde.  Even if they publicly announce they are sold out, there are often seats available.  I know this first hand because my ticket on Sunday was apparently for March 24th, but they had a ticket they could trade with me.

Musical theatre in a small town can surprise and entertain you and make you proud to be from Da’ Berry.

Curtain call for Legally Blonde, the Musical.

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments »

SOLC2019: #18 Professor Bishop is on his way Home

March 18, 2019 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

Professor Bishop has been living in my husband’s closet for close to 13 years.  Our retired diocesan bishop, Willis Henton, died in February of 2006, and Jeff was in charge of his succession.  One day the new owners of Bishop Henton’s home called Jeff about a portrait in the shed.

Jeff called the son of Bishop Henton who was living in Texas.  The son said that it was an academic portrait of David Bishop, father of Martha Bishop Henton and chairman of the English Department at the University of Mississippi. The family had disliked the portrait so much they had it replaced. The original portrait was the one exiled to the shed. The Henton’s son told Jeff to throw the portrait away, but Jeff couldn’t bring himself to do that.  He put it in his closet.

Last week an artist stayed with us during her participation in the Shadows Plein Air competition.  Low and behold, she was from Oxford, MS, the original home of the portrait.  Some years ago, Jeff had discovered that the owner of an independent bookstore in Oxford was the grandson of Professor Bishop, so he contacted him about the portrait and promised that we would one day travel there and deliver Professor Bishop to him. Alas, that trip never happened.

However, Debbie was more than happy to deliver the portrait for us.  Jeff spent the morning on Saturday reframing (Mr. Bishop had fallen out of the frame) and packaging him up for the long drive to Oxford.

Jeff mentioned the new space in his closet.  We kind of miss that old man already, but we are happy he is on his way back to his family.  We still hope to visit Oxford some day to check out Square Books and visit Professor Bishop and our new artist friend.

Jeff proudly holds Professor Bishop after reframing him.

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments »

SOLC2019: #17 Stalking Artists

March 17, 2019 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

On Saturday, the Shadows Plein Air Competition hosted a Quick Draw.  Charlie (my dog) and I walked downtown to stalk  talk with some of the artists.

Sherri Thomas (@sherrithomas.artist) from Larsen, Wisconsin was painting the historical Mount Carmel which had been the original home of a founding family, the Duperiers.  Her first layer of paint was drying in the cool air while she added detail elements.

My walk continued and wherever there was an artist, I stopped and chatted with them.  I thanked them for coming and doing something so positive for our city.  I texted our visiting artist, Debbie, to find out where she was painting.  Her sister had come in Friday night, so they could paint together.  (This Saturday competition was open to anyone who wanted to participate; whereas, the weeklong competition was juried.)

Debbie and Sandy were on a corner with two other artists all painting the same building.  I had to stop and look and let the scene sink in.  I pass this building daily and have only thought of it as an old, dilapidated building where the Minuteman restores furniture. I had not noticed the amazing colors of the bricks or the blue doors.  I captured three of the four artists’ paintings and marvel at the complete differences in interpretation.

Debbi Myers from Oxford, MS works in watercolor.

Sandy, Debbie’s sister from Covington, LA works with acrylic and a pallet knife.

Tim Oliver won first place for his Minuteman in watercolor.

A closer view of the winning painting.

Like art, writing can take on different perspectives and interpretations.  The artist creates a mood with the setting.  The writer sets a tone.  The reader comes to the art or writing with their own perspective.  There’s big magic in all of this creating and observing.

My life is richer for having observed these artists in action, and now, I have a few pieces added to my own art collection to remember fondly this experience and the artists I met.

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged , , | 10 Comments »

SOLC2019: #16 Mother’s Milk

March 16, 2019 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Mother’s Milk

I woke up on the Earth today
planted my two feet
in the soil
of warm slippers
dragged them forward
again
to the kitchen
opened a new carton of milk
poured forth into the mug,
not my favorite today;
that one is dirty
because it’s Saturday
and the rain is still falling,
the dog wants to play ball
again.
Milk in the green mug–
a gift from a student–
heated and frothed,
sweetened with raw sugar,
still and waiting
for the coffee to brew,
the sound of steam pumping
through grains of sand,
like time
again.
Time slows
on Saturday morning,
and milk burns my tongue
again.
I am mindful
of each movement,
my feet, my hands,
my tongue, my voice
silent
on Saturday morning
again.

(draft) Margaret Simon

Process notes: I sat down to write with my cup of coffee beside me and the idea of “mother’s milk” from Laura Shovan’s daily prompt on Facebook.  This prompt came from Ann Haman. I read Amy Ludwig Vanderwater’s Poetry Friday title “A Poem for the Earth.” So the words milk and earth were sitting with me and my cup of coffee.  The rest flowed out of me.  That’s how poetry happens sometimes.  I usually write them and let them sit and go back later to see if any of it makes sense.  This time I just copied and pasted.

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged | 15 Comments »

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