Just an Old Folkie at Heart

Sometimes in the middle of the work, sometimes in the middle of the stress and nonsense, something just keeps shining through. And for me, that is music. Does music do it for you, too?
I love many forms of music, and certainly have several favorites, but what always feels as comfortable as a pair of old [...]

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Books to Feed the Soul-A Pocketful of Miracles

It is often said that when the pupil is ready the teacher appears. I believe that said teacher can also be in the form of a book by an inspiring author. So in addition to whatever novel, picture books, etc. I am reading at any given time, I am also reading a book of a [...]

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Africa – Perpetuum Jazzile

This amazing a cappella jazz choir from Slovenia not only reinvents Toto’s 1982 hit, Africa, but creates an African rainstorm with their hands as an introduction. It’s been around for a bit, but if you’ve never seen – or heard – it, it’s totally amazing. I’ve listened to it many times, and haven’t tired yet. [...]

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Work as Love

Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
Kahlil Gibran “On Work” from The Prophet
After working intensely on one of my major jobs [...]

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Winged Migration – A Spectacular Visual Treat

This movie, released in 2003, is one of the most spectacular I have seen. There is almost no narration, there are occasional notes on the bottom of the screen indicating the type of bird and the location and distance it flies during migration, and the most incredible music created just for the film. Not to [...]

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Honored to Receive the Honest Scrap Award

I recently found I was chosen for an award by a fellow blogger, The Battered Trunk.
I readily found what I, as a new recipient, needed to do, but was unsure exactly what the award was about. A little online delving, and I found the following definition of the Honest Scrap Award on Buddhist Minister Rev. [...]

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Outfoxing Your Reluctant Artist – 2

Stalled? Change your venue!
I prefer the word stalled to blocked, because sooner or later we always get going, and blocked is so …. well, final. One of the things I have found to work when I am feeling stalled is so simple it sounds like the obvious – do what you’re doing someplace else. If [...]

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NJ SCBWI June Conference – A Few Thoughts

The June 2009 Conference was, once again, spectacular. There was an amazing group of agents, editors, illustrators, authors, and art directors waiting to critique, guide, challenge and enlighten the 240 participants. And there was plenty of talent on the attendee side as well. Both new and familiar faces were present to submit manuscripts and illustrations, [...]

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