7 of my favorite books

I was recently challenged by a friend to post the cover of 7 books that I liked -- one per day-- on Twitter. IT WAS SO HARD TO CHOOSE! But here is a summary of the seven books I chose. Maybe one of them will catch your eye and you'll want to read it, too!

Day One

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

 

Two Creativity Challenges in One Month!

Let the brainstorming and creativity begin to roll!

I am happy to announce that I am a proud Storystorm participant. This means I am committed to brainstorming at least one picture book idea per day during the month of January. (I can do more than one if I want) :) This is put on by Tara Lazar. She gathers many "experts" in the field of picture book writing and offers advice and give-aways all month long. I highly recommend this experience.

I also joined a creativity challenge put on through Accent Interactive. Each day during the month of January participants are challenged to do something "creative" to make it a habit. I am committing to make at least one Pinterest pin that will link with my blog to help me grow my "tribe."  I am happy to announce that today I made 13 new pins, all linking back to a previous post on this blog. It was fun and felt great to "create!" 

So thankful for the people at Accent who are joining together to BE CREATIVE!  

If you would like to join in the creativity fun, email ken@accentinteractive.net and tell him your commitment. 

Also, check out their services at http://www.accentinteractive.com They are a very talented group of experts!

Welcome 2019 What's your WORD?

restart

reset

renew

remove 

realize

recover

refresh

reform

refuse

regain

rejoice

release

repair

revise

review

rejuvenate

All of these words "relate" to my goals for 2019. How many apply to yours? 

What's your #1 from this list?

Mouse in a Matchbox - Craft Idea for Kids

This week I am heading to Springfield, Missouri to celebrate Thanksgiving with my brother and extended family. On Saturday, I am doing another Story Time Event with Barnes & Noble. 

This is the craft that I am bringing to share with the children. 

I can't believe I haven't shared this craft on the blog yet. 

Isn't it cute?

And so easy to make!

The craft is one of four ideas in the FREE DOWNLOADABLE teaching guide that Zonderkidz helped me format. 

I purchased the matchboxes (and emptied the matches) at Meijer. ($1 for 10 boxes).

 I cut pieces of felt for the blanket, 

and I cut make-up remover cotton pads into two pieces for the mattress.

 The paper doll is from the download. It comes in three sizes, but I chose the smallest size, made a screenshot, and created a document so that I can print a bunch all at once on white cardstock. 

Finally, assemble it!

I tell each child that Mouse loves to hear their stories. 

I hope many children end up telling Mouse their stories in the days and months to come.

Tea Party with Mouse

You are never too old for a tea party!  I had a blast at this tea party I threw for my family over Fall Break. (Yes, Christmas is on my mind early this year because of MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT) 

Thanks to my friend Tonia, I found this fabulous "Christmas Mice" peanut butter cookie recipe from Taste of Home on Pinterest. 

Pinterest Link from Taste of Home

Aren't they cute? 

I added the cheese cubes (see above) so Mouse would have something to nibble. My kids pointed out that Mouse would not appreciate eating a "mouse." 

Merry Christmas!

P.S. Do you have a favorite holiday cookie or treat? Feel free to share it in the comment section!

B & N Bookfair with Indiana SCBWI

Honored to be one of the authors signing at this event! Hope to see you there!

I am in the morning signing session from 11:30am - 1:00pm.

Story Time and Crafts at Barnes & Noble with opportunity to donate to the Indiana Chapter of The Pajama Program

Countdown to Story Time at Barnes and Noble in Noblesville. I'll be there all day, so come out and say hi! I'm very excited about helping The Pajama Program, which benefits foster children across this country by providing them new pajamas and new books. It would make my heart so happy to know that children in this situation were receiving Mouse's Christmas Gift. You can purchase a book that day to give to the cause, or you can bring a pair of new pajamas to donate. All donations will go to the Indiana Chapter of The Pajama Program to benefit children in our state. (I live in Indiana)

Check out the organization The Pajama Program at the link below:
Link to The Pajama Program website 

Guest Post: Half Marathon or Picture Book Publication

Check out my guest post on the Fireworks and Foliage website.  This is a group of authors who all have picture book debuts in 2018 summer and fall.  I compare my experience running a half marathon to publishing a picture book.  Check it out by clicking the GUEST POST link!
Guest Post:

Getting Ready For Book Events

In my book, Mouse's Christmas Gift, the villagers decorate a tree near the church with hair ribbons and quilt squares.

My dear friend Tonia made a tree that we can decorate together at book events. It turned out so cute!  I can't wait to use it!

Hope you can join me at an event!  Check out all of my events by clicking on the link on the home page of this blog. 

Coming up:

October 7th LAUNCH PARTY at The Well Coffeehouse in Fishers, IN

And on October 11, Story Time at Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, MI.

Hope to see you there!

My advance copy arrived!

Happy is the word that describes my feelings in this picture!

After YEARS of waiting for this dream to come true, it did!

This is a sneak peek inside the book. 

Dow Phumiruk did a magical job of making the story come alive!

Thanks for stopping in and sharing this moment with me!

5 minute Friday - VACATION

I traveled a few miles this June.  School let out for the summer, and I left for Spain and Italy with a group of students and co-teachers.  We had a blast!  Here are a few of my favorite pics:

Parque Guëll in Barcelona

Las tres profesoras en Toledo

Roma

Roma

Island of Capri

Next, I hit the road to celebrate my parents' golden 50th anniversary!  Kudos to them for staying together for the long haul.  I am proud to be their daughter.  We celebrated at my brother's new home/farm in Springfield, MO.

Next stop, Ohio!  Another anniversary--my husband's parents celebrated a 60 year milestone which Google tells me is the "diamond" anniversary.  Amazing. We spent the weekend swimming, barbecuing, and eating homemade ice cream. A lot of it.

Finally, my family and I went to Michigan--to Macinac, Island and the Upper Peninsula. This was our first time in the area (except for me when I was six years old so it still felt new).  We enjoyed ourselves!  I can't even begin to tell you how relaxing the bike ride around the island was. I loved it!!
I highly recommend it for your next get-away.

Our bike ride on Macinac Island

Upper Peninsula

I have more photos of my experiences on Instagram at @mindybakerbooks.  It is such a treat to travel and see new sights and places with the ones I love.  I treasure each moment! Where have you been lately and what have you been up to?  I would love to hear about it!

Mouse's Christmas Gift -- available for pre-order!

Yesterday marked the first day for pre-orders of Mouse's Christmas Gift on the Zondervan website.  As the days draw closer to the actual release date, I have to admit...I'm so excited!!  It is hard to believe this is finally happening!

I'm starting to schedule events for the fall...Story times, Author visits, Meet and greets, and a Book Launch Party.  Check out my calendar page for details.


Pre-order Mouse's Christmas Gift on Zondervan website

Pre-order Mouse's Christmas Gift on Amazon

Pre-order Mouse's Christmas Gift on Barnes & Noble website

FLAPJACK FRIDAY #50PreciousWords Challenge 2018 (my entry)

Vivian Kirkfield is holding a challenge on her blog to write a complete story in 50 words or less. It must have a beginning, middle, and end. The title is not included in the word count. So...here is my entry.  (It is 47 words)

Link to Vivian's website:
http://www.viviankirkfield.com


Flapjack Friday


Flapjack Friday,
Hip, hip, hooray!
Each Friday night,
A holiday.
Pour the batter in a pan,
Heart, star, or circle?
Dad's the man!
Dad flips them high,
Then to my plate.
Butter, syrup,
Don't make me wait!
Come and get it!
Don't delay,
You're invited...
Flapjack Friday!

Whole30...I'm on day 15!

My husband and I are on day 15 of the Whole30.  It has been a very interesting exercise in will power!

And an education in cooking and buying new products to use to cook!

My favorite dishes so far that we have tried:

Pineapple Firecracker Chicken  served over Cauliflower fried rice.

Lemon Thyme Roasted Sole and Asparagus

Chile Lime Fish Taco Bowls

Pizza Potato Skins

Foods I miss:

Not that many, really.  Mainly my snacks.  15 days to go!

I joined a critique group

I joined a writing critique group that meets twice a month. I have attended twice so far. I really enjoyed getting to know other authors, hearing about their writing journeys, and listening to what they are working on.

Last night I even shared something I have been working on since my trip to Prague.  The seed of the idea started then, but I have been tweaking and revising it off and on. I think it is almost ready.

It was such an encouragement to hear the feedback and ideas from the authors in the group. And helpful!

I can't wait to attend again. I highly recommend critique groups!

Story Storm -- How did I do?

I loved participating in Story Storm.

It was very motivating to receive tips in my inbox each day from published authors and illustrators. They had some unique suggestions on where to get ideas for stories!

Here's what happened to me this month:

I brainstormed 40 ideas.  (I was hoping for more, but it was great to have a push to get some new ideas cooking.)

I began developing two of the ideas because I am so excited about them.

I also joined a critique group through SCBWI and went to my first meeting.  It was fun! I look forward to receiving feedback about some of my writing pieces.

Finally, I even edited and worked on a few proposals for manuscripts that have been on the back burner for awhile.

Thanks STORY STORM, for helping me be productive and push forward with my writing!

I'm a STORY STORM participant!

Each day of January I am pledging to brainstorm ideas for new stories.  All participants of STORY STORM are on the honor system (meaning we don't actually share our ideas publically), but each day on Tara Lazar's blog, she hosts an "expert" who gives exercises and techniques for authors to use.  The first few days of January were a little rough for me, but I have now officially started and am ready to CREATE!  Maybe one day I'll be able to say..."that book you hold in your hand was an idea that came from STORY STORM 2018!"


Tara's blog/website

Thanks, @Tara Lazar for this inspirational experience.
You can also follow the Twitter hashtag #STORYSTORM to see what we are up to.

Happy news...I have a new agent!

I am excited to announce that I have switched literary agents.  

I am now agented by Drew Chamberlin of Credo Communications.

I received the completed paperwork yesterday... Merry early Christmas! 

I am very thankful to God for this turn of events, 

and I look forward to 2018 and its new opportunities and new beginnings.

Writing- test of endurance and willingness to take a LEAP OF FAITH

So many points along the writing journey have required a leap of faith.

--Taking a writing course (even when it cost money)

--Believing that my manuscript was good enough to submit to an agent, magazine publication, or a book publishing house.

--Submitting the manuscript for the possible acceptance/rejection of that agent, publication, or a book publishing house. (FOLLOW THROUGH)

--Going to a Writing Conference

--Signing up for a 15 minute appointment with an expert at the Writing Conference

--Talking to other people that I didn't know at the Writing Conference

--Joining a critique group

--Setting up a Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter promoting the fact that I am a writer.

--Actually telling people face-to-face that I am a writer.  That was and is probably the hardest!  Especially when I don't have anything published to show for myself (yet) :)


And,
I have taken each of these steps of faith along my writer's path! And survived! God was (and is) with me every step along the way.

And, currently in my writing journey, I am facing another LEAP.  Can't explain the whole thing, but it is there.  And looking very impossible!

So that's why I'm reminding myself of the faithfulness of God.

Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Not to take this verse too far out of context but.. 1 Thess 4:24 "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."


Many of Jesus's miracles required the person he was helping to take a leap of faith.

Can you think of any examples?

Here's an example from something I studied last week:

Jesus's first miracle...turning the water into wine.

Have you ever noticed that the servants had to take the "water" to the master and present it to him as wine.  The question is, when exactly did they KNOW they had wine in their jars?

I admire their faith.

I want to imitate their faith.

I will take my leap of faith.  (Hold me accountable, please!)

I will let you know how it goes.  Are you facing a leap of faith?  I'd love to hear about it.

P.S. BTW, a good reminder. Even if what I want to happen doesn't happen, God is there.  And HE is enough!

I'm going to a Writers Conference!

Another author first for me!  After a push from a few writing pals that I have, I am officially signed up to attend this conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  How do I feel?  NERVOUS!  Especially since I am going to drive up there by myself.  Thank goodness for Mapquest!

But I can't wait to learn, learn, learn, and learn some more.  The break out sessions look very helpful, and I will finally get to meet my new online friend Glenys Nellist.  She is PRESENTING at the conference which is so amazing.  I'm sure I will take a TON of notes!  Congrats, Glenys Nellist!  Your work is inspiring.