To Be or Not To Be

By Gloria Reichert

Show. Don’t tell.

Writers often hear this excellent advice, but following it poses some challenges. Authors can heed this advice to some degree by choosing to use active verbs instead of passive forms of the verb “to be” (is, are, was, were, etc).

Active verbs make our writing more descriptive and concise. They enliven it with concrete details. They make it more readable, and they help appeal to the senses. Active verbs move our scenes forward. A well-chosen active verb can eliminate the need for an adverb.

For example, one could write the following sentence using the passive verb “was.”

Robby’s room was messy.

This sentence summarizes the situation. Or one could use active verbs to show how Robby’s room looked.

Robby’s red T-shirt draped the chair by his desk. Socks of various colors tried to escape from the open dresser drawer. Potato chips crumbs littered the floor and formed a trail to the Legos scattered underneath the window. Rumpled sheets and blankets covered the unmade bed. An empty milk glass stood on the nightstand surrounded by chocolate chip cookie crumbs. 

Using active verbs creates a more vivid picture of Robby’s room and also gives some insight into his character traits.

Or consider the following sentence which tells us about Suzie using a passive verb.

Suzie was happy.

Using active verbs shows the reader her happiness and add more emotional intensity to the scene.

Suzie’s face glowed with a radiant smile. Her eyes sparkled. She hummed a lively tune as she skipped down the sidewalk. A small burst of laughter escaped at the sight of two puppies playing in the neighbor’s yard.

Now try your hand at changing these telling sentences into showing ones by using active verbs.

Bobby was lonely.

Ann was surprised.

Gwen was nervous.

Whether or not to use an active or passive verb depends on the writer’s intended purpose. Active verbs emphasize the person or object performing the action. Passive verbs emphasize the person or object receiving the action.

So if you want stronger writing that packs more punch, read over one of your manuscripts and highlight every passive verb. Then go back though the manuscript and replace each passive verb with an active one. Bet you will be pleased with the results.

Show. Don’t tell. Accomplished!

 

Meet Children’s Book Illustrator Ken Min

By Gloria Adams

Ken is an illustrator and animation storyboard artist for commercials and animated TV shows. His picture book debut, Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-Ji received the picture book honor for Literature from the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA). His illustration work has been recognized numerous times by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles (SILA). Other books Ken has illustrated include Ah-Choo! by Lana Wayne Koehler and Gloria G. Adams, What Does It Mean To Be an Entrepreneur? by Rana DiOrio and Emma D. Dryden, Love is Love by Michael Genhart, and Benji, the Bad Day, and Me by Sally J.Pla. Ken makes his home in Burbank, California.


What inspired you to illustrate picture books?

I used to work in book stores early on. The children’s section was the one area no one wanted to have to clean up or straighten at the end of the day because it was always a mess and chaotic. Note to readers and parents: Please be sure to pick up after yourself or child when visiting the book store. It’s only polite. One time, it was my turn and while cleaning up, I really started to take notice of all the different books we had. Just really noticing the breadth and variety of art styles. At this time, I had probably just graduated from art school and was looking to see where I fit in, in regard to the art world. This was definitely one area that caught my interest. Of course, it took another 10 years before I really got serious about it, but that’s another story.

Who are some authors and illustrators that you admire?

There are so many. But as far as who influenced my artistic style- it would have to be Ezra Jack Keats, Eric Carle and the Provensens, Alice & Martin. I just admired their clean lines and shapes as well as their sense of color. Someone more recent would be Jon Klassen, Annette Marnat and Christian Robinson.

What’s your favorite medium in which to create?

If you had asked me maybe 3 years ago, I would probably have said that I like to sketch with a pencil (blue), paper and an eraser. But now I really enjoy working digitally. (the ‘undo’ button really eases my anxiety and stress level) And with the variety of digital brush line styles, I can mimic line qualities that really please me.

What’s on your bucket list for your career as an illustrator?

Still trying to crack the “author” part of author/illustrator.

If you weren’t an artist, what else would you like to do for a living?

My mother used to tell me that when I was little, I was crazy about dinosaurs and that I wanted to be a dinosaur doctor. (not that dinosaurs have much use for doctors nowadays.)

What kinds of books do you like to read?

In general, mostly works of fiction. (my favorite book is “The Great Gatsby”). But I also read art books (for the pictures), comics (both books and strips), and I get recommendations of MG and YA books from friends to read.

What book or book illustrator has influenced you the most?

I’m assuming you are referring to children’s literature (for the record, my favorite book is The Great Gatsby. Did I mention that already?? :P) I do admire the whimsy of the Pooh books, and when I try to write, I like to read certain books to get my mind in the right head space. So books like Extra Yarn and City Dog, Country Frog often help me find my voice. 

Who would you like to have dinner with (living or dead)?

Can I say Fitzgerald?!? (do you sense a pattern?!?) Makes one wonder what kind of children’s book Scott would have written if he put his mind to it…and a dinner with him probably would not involve much food, just drinks. Lots of it!

Thinking about children’s book authors, I might say Ezra Jack Keats. He is a huge inspiration on my art styling and it would be nice to talk to him about his work and to thank him. Also, I’m very fortunate to live in an area with lots of fellow illustrators and authors around, so now and then we will get together for a bite. And those are such enjoyable and lively times.

What did you do when you worked at Nickelodeon?

I worked as a storyboard artist at Nickelodeon and more recently at Warner Bros in TV animation. Storyboarding is visualizing your movie/TV show/game before you roll the camera or begin animation. It's part of the pre-production process. As with writing, you might fashion an outline first so you know the steps you will take in your story.

It's the same with storyboarding. Think of it as drawing out a comic (book) to "see" where the events of your story take place, where the action is directed, who is in the shot, how the story progresses in an orderly fashion. It's also where you can try different shots & set ups and determine the best course of action for your story before you commit a lot of your resources to the finished product.


What is one piece of advice that you would give to new/aspiring illustrators?

 Work at your craft and be patient. It will happen if you give it time.


Short and Sweet:

Pantser or Plotter? Definitely a plotter.

Guilty Food Pleasure?  I’m definitely a PIE guy.

Favorite Hobby? Who has time for hobbies with stuff to draw! Ha ha 

Dog or Cat person? meow

Do you do your best work in the Morning, Afternoon, or Evening? Late mornings, for sure, I’m at my “freshest”. Then I roll into the afternoons and probably lose steam by the evening. I guess I have that “business person” work ethic. I’m not necessarily a ‘nite owl’ or a vampire. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Most of my friends do their best work in the wee hours.

Interview with Author Michelle Medlock Adams

By Lisa Amstutz

Today we're happy to welcome Michelle Medlock Adams to the Six Pens blog. Michelle is a prolific author, teacher, and popular speaker at schools, writing conferences, etc. Today, we're talking about one of her new books, Dinosaur Devotions.

Dinosaur Devotions is a 160-page book geared toward grades 3-7. Each two-page spread introduces a dinosaur, then ties in characteristics of that animal with a Bible verse, journaling prompt, and "Digging Deeper" thought. The text is written at a level that is easy for kids to understand, with fun, colorful illustrations.  

 
Welcome, Michelle! Tell us a little bit about yourself. 
 
I’m a Hoosier through and through—born and raised in Southern Indiana and a graduate of Indiana University School of Journalism. I began my writing career as a newspaper reporter, served as a stringer for the Associated Press, and eventually moved to Texas to take a feature writing position with a worldwide ministry magazine. That’s where I began writing for children.

One day my boss came into my office and explained that the writer who had been crafting the children’s stories was moving to the Internet department. Then he said, “You have kids, right?” I nodded, “Yes, I have two little girls.” “Good,” he said. “You can write the children’s stories then.” I remember thinking, “Just because I have kids doesn’t mean I can write for them.” But I’m a researcher so I read every book I could find about writing for children, and I joined the local chapter of SCBWI and began learning. I fell in love with writing for children during that season, and it’s been a love affair ever since.


How did Dinosaur Devotions come about?


Well, my youngest daughter, Allyson, wasn’t your typical girly girl, growing up. She loved dinosaurs and lizards. In fact, she had an African Fat-tailed Lizard for almost a decade. His name was Rocky. Anyway, because she loved dinosaurs so much, we checked out lots of dinosaur books from our library. And, I discovered I was also fascinated with dinosaurs. Since we were living in Texas at the time, we were able to see dinosaur footprints and fossils near Glen Rose, Texas. It was very cool.


Fast forward to a couple of years ago…I was writing another devotional book for adults on the theme of nature, and as I wrote about various animals, I started thinking about how fun it would be to write devotionals about dinosaurs. I liked the alliteration of “Dinosaur Devotions,” so I I made that the working title and pitched the idea to an editor friend of mine. She loved it! That was the confirmation I needed to move forward. I truly believe God started me on this Jurassic journey many years ago.


What's your favorite dinosaur?

I'd have to say the Parasaurolophus. It was quite an odd-looking dinosaur. It had a hollow tube-like crest on its head, and that crest often grew 6 feet long. Here's the coolest thing--it made a musical sound sort of like a trumpet! Some experts say the crest made a low B-flat sound, sort of like you might hear from an elephant, and that’s how it communicated with other dinosaurs. This dino had its own musical instrument attached to his head. I think that's really awesome!


You have written adult and children’s books. Which are harder and why?


Writing for children is much harder but it’s also way more fun. It’s more difficult because you have to say so much in so few words. And you have to write it in such a way that kids won’t be off your lap and down the hall before you’re done with the book.


If you could tell your younger writing self something, what would it be?


Relax and enjoy the journey a little more. When I was younger, I was always looking to the next deadline, the next contract, the next conference. Today, I still plan ahead, but I am enjoying this writing journey a lot more. I feel so blessed to get to do what I do fulltime.


What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?


The money we spent so that I could attend the Write-to-Publish writers conference at Wheaton College in 2000. That conference was life-changing for me. I pitched a book to the late Denny Boultinghouse at Howard Books, and he rejected it within the first minute of our 15-min. appointment. So, to fill the time, I told him about another book idea I’d had while reading a magazine on the plane. “That I like,” he said, and proceeded to help me outline the book. The following year, that book, “Living the Love Chapter” was published and earned me “Writer of the Year.” It was a career-changing moment for me.


What tips do you have for writers wanting to break into the children's devotional market?


First off, study the mechanics of devotions. As you'll see from reading children's devo books, most have sort of a pattern--a scripture; a thought for the day; a journaling exercise; a prayer; and of course, the main story and teaching. And, often devotional books for kids are themed. This goes for adult devotional books, too. I actually teach a course on Serious Writer Academy called, "The Do's and Don’ts of Devotional Writing" that would prove helpful to any writer wanting to learn more about devo writing. As far as finding markets, "The Christian Writers Market Guide 2019" will help you identify magazine and book markets for your children's devotionals.


Thanks again, Michelle!


To learn more about Michelle's books and events, visit her online at any of the following places:

Website: http://www.michellemedlockadams.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellemedlock.adams
Twitter: https://twitter.com/INwritergirl
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/INwritergirl/
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/INwritergirl 

When You’re Not the Expert: How Picture Book Writers Can Tackle Topics and Places Outside their Realm

Today, we're excited to share a guest post by author Emma Smith, author of the forthcoming To Live on an Island and other titles. Welcome, Emma!  - Lisa Amstutz



By Emma Smith

Many of us have heard the advice that we should write about what we know. When querying, we’re urged to show that we are the best person to tackle this topic. What, then, made me qualified to write a picture book about a place I had barely heard of, never mind visited, till a few years ago? Going into this project, I felt my own sort of imposter syndrome.

I first read about Washington State’s beautiful San Juan Islands while researching a historical nonfiction picture book set in the same area. I’d always had  a thing for islands and had visited many, from Monhegan and Mackinac to Skye and Corsica. The San Juans sounded as magical as any place I’d ever seen. I was enchanted. And I wanted to write a book describing what it was like to grow up there.

Despite the fact that I had never been to these islands (something I would soon remedy), deep inside, I believed I could write this book. My expertise came from my fascination with and growing affection for the place. Furthermore, later, as I traveled the Islands, I realized that my outsider perspective actually helped me see things locals took for granted. For example, I was struck by the frequent hum of tiny airplanes overhead—something residents don’t even notice anymore. Many people get around by small plane there. I knew I had to put that in the book.

But I wanted to be sure I would get things right. One bookseller gently expressed trepidation, explaining that non-local writers who set books in the San Juans often completely over-romanticize them. I get it. I live in San Francisco, a city so burdened by clichés that it’s hard to know what’s real. I worked hard to capture the magic and charm of the Islands without relying on fantasy and stereotype. I hope I succeeded!


If you want to write about a place (or person) you have limited personal connection to, here are three things you can do to make sure your book rings true:

•    Visit the location. The internet is pretty darn good, but still, there is no substitute for experiencing the sounds, smells, and sights in person. Sit in a café and eavesdrop. Shop at the supermarkets. Catch a flick at the local movie theater. I spent an unforgettable week on the Islands, trying to live like a local, not a tourist.

•    Interview locals. I am shy and an introvert, but I forced myself to meet people. Most helpfully, I had coffee with two Island moms. I asked them questions and, even though I felt silly doing it, I literally read them my rough manuscript, asking them to fact-check and comment on each section. They shared anecdotes I would never have gotten anywhere else, and some of them made it into the book. I also introduced myself to all the booksellers, and each one was kind and supportive. (That’s not really surprising, because booksellers in general are awesome!) These personal interviews made me feel connected to the Islands in a meaningful way.

•    Be humble. Don’t pretend to be the expert. Ask questions. Be honest about the fact that you are an outsider but that you want to do the place justice. I introduced myself to the owner of the general store on one small island, explaining that I was a complete newbie to the area. She was so enthusiastic that she actually made me borrow her car to drive around the island to experience it better! (I had ferried over on foot.)

My next three books are closer to home. Coming up, I have picture books about a dog who survived the 2017 Northern California fires (which also affected my family and friends), the white alligator at the California Academy of Sciences (which I’ve been visiting since I was a child), and Alcatraz (another island—but this time right here in San Francisco!). With these subjects, my hometown advantage made me feel, from the get-go, somewhat more confident and qualified (not that I claim to be an expert on them). But now I’ve learned that writers can also take on topics that hail from far outside their realm, if they do so with integrity, respect, and care.

Emma’s next few books will be published by Sasquatch, Boyds Mills Press, Charlesbridge, and West Margin Press. Her first book, Journey: Based on the True Story of OR7, the Most Famous Wolf in the West, won Bank Street’s Cook Prize and the Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award. To Live on an Island comes in May 2019 from Sasquatch/Little Bigfoot. Visit Emma online at emmabsmith.com.

Twitter: @emmablandsmith

Facebook: Emma Bland Smith

Instagram: emmasmithsf

 

Pros and Cons of Work-For-Hire

By Gloria Adams and Lisa Amstutz

The children’s publishing industry can be tough to break into. Competition is high and budgets are low. But there’s another way to get published that many authors are unaware of: the educational market. These publishers put out educational books, often in series, that are marketed specifically to schools and libraries. While authors can pitch ideas to these publishers, they typically develop concepts in house and then hire authors to write them.

Here are a few of the pros and cons of writing for the educational market:

Pros:

• Publishing credits. This can be especially appealing as a new writer because it’s not easy to get published credits. Work-for-hire books give you a published book by an established publishing house that you can add to your resume and your cover letters to publishers and/or agents.

• Money. Some pay more than others, but because you are working under a contract, you know you will get paid for producing the book. For some authors, this can provide a steady stream of income. School and library visits may also be an option for extra income and promotion.

• Validation. Being published through established publishers, even if it is work for hire, means you are a good enough writer that they are willing to place their name on a product for which you wrote the text. 

• Your name on Amazon. If it’s your first book, you will become a published author on Amazon, maybe Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and others. Your book will probably be sold to libraries, schools and bookstores. It’s promotion you don’t have to pay for.

Cons:

• Short deadlines. Turn-around time to submit outlines and finished manuscripts is usually very tight. You may only be given a week or a month to come up with an outline, depending on the length of the book. Finished manuscripts are usually due in just a few months. On the upside, books for hire are usually published within a year of the submission deadline.

• Research. Many work-for-hire projects are non-fiction and require a lot of research. Make sure you have the time and willingness to do all the research your book requires.

• Compliance with the publisher’s requirements. Each publisher will give you the parameters around which you must do the work for the book. These are seldom, if ever, negotiable.

• No royalties. Work-for-hire is almost always done for a flat fee with no royalties paid after publication. This is negative in that you won’t make any more money from your book in the form of royalties, but positive in that you won’t have to do any marketing or selling.

• Competition. There are a lot of people who would like to write books for hire. It may take a while to get a job. Also, editors move around a lot within the publishing world and the editor that hired you previously may have moved on.

If you’re willing to do the work, work-for-hire can be a great way to break into publishing, gain experience, and share your knowledge with kids. Consider giving this market a try! In our next post, we’ll tell you how to get started.

Gloria has written for Rosen, Enslow and Greenhaven Press. Lisa writes regularly for Capstone, Rourke, and others.

Beyond Writing Prompts

By Gloria G. Adams

Most of us have used writing prompts for different reasons: to break writer’s block, at gatherings of writers, at conferences and workshops, to generate new story ideas. But most of the prompts you may have used are only that: prompts. Whether it’s a photo, a string of words, a first line, or a scenario, that’s all it is.

What if you could take those prompts further? What if you had a step-by-step guide to show you how to take a prompt and turn it into a story or a book with a strong plot, engaging characters, and believable settings?

That’s what my new book, Photo Plots: How to Write Great Photo-inspired Books and Stories, is all about. In it, you’ll find some basics on plot, character development, and settings/world building, a template with questions for building your stories, four sample stories, and over 60 images to spark your imagination.

Here’s an excerpt:

PHOTO PLOT: A story plot inspired by a photo.

PHOTO PLOTTING: The act of creating a story plot inspired by a photo.

PHOTO PLOTTER: One who photo plots.

There are times in the writing life when ideas dry up, when inspiration won’t come. Your brain has come up with what you consider to be a fabulous idea, but no words seem to convey the vision you have for it. Maybe you’re part way through your manuscript and nothing is working right in chapter eight. Or seven. Your mind is blank and so is that white page in front of you. Some call it “writer’s block.” No matter what you call it, it can be a source of great frustration.

One way to push through writer’s block is to just start writing. And sometimes you need a prompt to get you going. I’m a big fan of word prompts, but sometimes they just aren’t enough.

I find that photos work much better, possibly because they tap into the emotions through a visual experience. You can actually see the character, envision the scenery, smell the scent of those flowers. From there, hopefully, a story idea will germinate.

But, let’s take it one step further. The picture is there, the ideas begin to flow, but where do you start and how do you actually make it work?

Try Photo Plots.

With Photo Plots, you can choose a picture, brainstorm some ideas, then fill in a special plot template, answering questions about characters, plot, and world building as you go.

You’ll get some basics, step-by-step guides, a sample story built with the template, and three stories written by three different authors using the same photograph. Plus, many wonderful photos to inspire you.

Whatever your experience with photo prompts has been, Photo Plots will take you a step further by providing the tools you need to build the stories only you can create. Ready? Let’s get Photo Plotting!

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Photo-Plots-Write-Photo-Inspired-Stories/dp/1732465991/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1539289714&sr=1-1

B & N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/photo-plots-gloria-g-adams/1129704525?ean=9781732465992

Interview with Author Lindsay Bonilla

By Lisa Amstutz

Today I'm happy to welcome my friend Lindsay Bonilla to the blog to share about her new picture book, POLAR BEAR ISLAND, which will be released in October. Lindsay, thanks for stopping by!

WHAT IS YOUR BOOK ABOUT?

Polar Bear Island is about Parker, the mayor of a peaceful and predictable island that is just for polar bears. Parker is determined to keep others off his island. Then Kirby, an adventurous penguin arrives. Kirby is tired after her long journey so Parker agrees to let her stay on the island for one night; but once the other bears meet Kirby and learn about her unique invention, they don't want her to leave.

 
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS STORY?

It was actually something that happened to my husband that inspired the story. My husband, Estith, is originally from Colombia, but we met in Spain. After we got engaged he moved here, but he didn't speak English. Still, as soon as his work permit came through, he started working as an electrician. He pushed himself to learn the language and because of his incredible skill was quickly promoted to running jobs.

One day he and a crew of electricians went to do a job at an industrial plant. When they arrived, Estith began to explain to the supervisor what they were going to do. After hearing my husband's accent, the supervisor ignored him and addressed the other members of the crew instead.

My husband felt disrespected and hurt. This wasn't the first time that someone had not wanted to engage in a conversation with him because of his accent. When he told me what happened, I was sad and angry. While I could appreciate the fact that it can be hard to understand someone with an accent; I also felt like all too often, some people aren't even willing to try.

My husband's experience got me thinking about all the forms of discrimination that he and our immigrant friends had experienced as well as the negative bias that so often surrounds immigrants in general. I wanted to tell a story that painted a positive picture of immigration and that was the seed for POLAR BEAR ISLAND. To this day I have no idea how penguins and polar bears became the vehicle for telling this story.


WHAT DO YOU HOPE IT WILL LEAVE YOUR READERS THINKING ABOUT?

I hope readers of POLAR BEAR ISLAND will be left thinking about the fact that we can learn a lot from those who are different than ourselves. People from different places or different backgrounds have a lot to teach us and can enrich our lives. Many times our fear or dislike of others is grounded in stereotypes that simply aren't true. I hope POLAR BEAR ISLAND will encourage people to look past stereotypes and biases and get to know people who are different on a personal level.

I also want readers to think about how they treat people who are different. Are they welcoming? Are they open to new ways of doing things? Open to learning from someone else? Or do they have the mindset that “my/our way is best” without ever experiencing another way of life? My mind has been opened considerably by traveling, living abroad and being married to someone from another country/culture. All of these experiences have taught me that oftentimes instead of there being right/wrong ways of doing things, there are simply different ways of doing things.I hope the book will cause readers to put themselves in the shoes, or in this case, the Flipper Slippers of another and ask, “How would I want to be treated if I were in that situation?”

Just as each of the penguins in the story has something to offer, I also want children to know that everyone has a unique gift to offer to the world.
 
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PUBLISHING JOURNEY FOR THIS BOOK.

I started writing this story in 2015. I took it to my critique partner and also had a paid critique with Pam Calvert. Pam thought the book was very close to being ready for submission but that I needed to make some of the penguin's hobbies more kid-friendly. She was exactly right. I took her suggestions and revised accordingly. Then for some reason, I put the manuscript aside. I honestly don't know why. Then in 2016 I heard about the SCBWI Michigan Roundtable Retreat to be held in October. You had to submit a manuscript to be considered. I submitted a different manuscript and was notified I'd been accepted. But when it came time to decide what I wanted to actually work on at the conference during my roundtable session with editor Brett Duquette, for some reason, POLAR BEAR ISLAND, came back to my mind. I pulled it back out and took it to my critique group and my online critique partners to polish it up some more.

During my session with Brett, he gave me some amazing feedback that really seemed to unlock parts of the story. After the conference, I made another round of edits and sent it off to Brett a few weeks later. Brett called soon after to say he was taking it to his editorial team at Sterling. By Christmas it had passed both acquisitions and sales, and I had an offer.

To this day, I am beyond grateful for the SCBWI Michigan Roundtable Retreat. The funny thing is I initially debated whether or not I should go as it was an 8 hour drive, I was 4 months pregnant and had a toddler at home! But it turns out it was one of the best decisions I ever made!

 
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ASPIRING PICTURE BOOK AUTHORS?

Write because you love it, not just because you want to get published. During my first week as a theatre major at Northwestern University, the theatre faculty called all of us bright-eyed creative artists into a room and said, “If you can see yourself doing anything else, don't do this. Walk out this door right now.”

Certainly that was the last thing any of us were expecting to hear, and it was shocking and maybe even a bit disheartening. But as I've forged a career in the creative arts over the last 16 years or so, I've realized it was actually great advice that applies to writing too. Neither acting nor writing are easy paths -- so if you're not doing it because you LOVE it, because you can't imagine NOT doing it, you might not fair well with all of the ups and downs that are part of process.

If you LOVE it, you will want to stick with it. You will enjoy the growth, both personal and professional, that comes along with each draft you write – even if that manuscript never gets published. 

Lindsay Bonilla is an author and professional storyteller. Visit her online at http://www.lindsaybonilla.com/.