Thanks for accepting my invite, Stephenie!
I'd actually advise that you keep teaching part-time as well. Take it from someone who is doing it full-time. It is extremely difficult to earn enough to live on from writing alone. Also, in this economy, it would be good to have a regular income, no m... more

Thanks for accepting my invite, Stephenie!
I'd actually advise that you keep teaching part-time as well. Take it from someone who is doing it full-time. It is extremely difficult to earn enough to live on from writing alone. Also, in this economy, it would be good to have a regular income, no matter how small. I am considering returning to an editing job strictly for financial security.
I have a few blog posts about this:
http://traceybaptiste.wordpress.com.

It's great to meet you!

Hi!
Thanks for accepting my invitation. I am interested in your teaching career, up in what seems to me to be a frozen tundra! I grew up in the Deep South, central Alabama, and have never ventured far from home. HOWEVER, I, Thoreau and Dickinson, have travelled much in this tiny space. Smal... more

Hi!
Thanks for accepting my invitation. I am interested in your teaching career, up in what seems to me to be a frozen tundra! I grew up in the Deep South, central Alabama, and have never ventured far from home. HOWEVER, I, Thoreau and Dickinson, have travelled much in this tiny space. Small towns are filled with laughter and tragedy! Anyhow, you may read a bit of ME by going to gadsdentimes.com and clicking on Life and then on Columns. I write a weekly column for the Gadsden Times.

Thanks for the comment, Stephanie. I love legends, too. The Legend of Saint Nick came together when I discovered the guy we believe became Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, was orphaned when he was young. I wrote the Legend of Ohio for Sleeping Bear press after I discovered a wonderful oral tradition from a... more

Thanks for the comment, Stephanie. I love legends, too. The Legend of Saint Nick came together when I discovered the guy we believe became Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, was orphaned when he was young. I wrote the Legend of Ohio for Sleeping Bear press after I discovered a wonderful oral tradition from a "Keeper of Old Things" for the Iroquois and Algonquin, a story set during the last Ice Age, with Chief Tarachiawagon ("The Man Who Held Up the Sky"). But I've discovered dozens of great nuggets like that and still couldn't make them work as a picture book--not sure why. (Sometimes the magic works, and sometimes....) Dandi

Hi Stephanie,
It's good to have a new friend!
I enjoyed reading your bio and I can identify with getting cranky when you can't write. I have that problem when I don't get a chance to work on my own projects, especially painting!
Good luck with all of your creatio... more

Hi Stephanie,

It's good to have a new friend!

I enjoyed reading your bio and I can identify with getting cranky when you can't write. I have that problem when I don't get a chance to work on my own projects, especially painting!

Good luck with all of your creations!
Warm wishes,
Carol

I have taught 4th grade for 8 years now and have really loved it! They are at the age that they have independence, but they still are little children and like the teacher. With that said, I am moving down to 2nd grade next year. I have taught 5th and now 4th and I feel it is time for a change. W... more

I have taught 4th grade for 8 years now and have really loved it! They are at the age that they have independence, but they still are little children and like the teacher. With that said, I am moving down to 2nd grade next year. I have taught 5th and now 4th and I feel it is time for a change. We'll only see!!!! We have a huge elementary (and we are 1 of 2), over 900 students K-4 and the district is wanting to combine the 2 elementaries and make a K-2 building and a 3-4 building. Education is always changing!! It is funny that you mentioned that my students will be inspiration because Friday one my students told me I should write a story about my desk, since things are always missing. So I'm off on that idea at the moment. Take Care!

Hi Stephenie! Good to see you here, too. I know your name from the SCBWI email list...and have we met in person, too? (You look familiar, but I'm terrible at remembering people...I'm sorry!) I'm teaching a one-day workshop on writing for the educational market in Dec. at the Loft in Mpls. Maybe I'll... more

Hi Stephenie! Good to see you here, too. I know your name from the SCBWI email list...and have we met in person, too? (You look familiar, but I'm terrible at remembering people...I'm sorry!) I'm teaching a one-day workshop on writing for the educational market in Dec. at the Loft in Mpls. Maybe I'll see you there, or at some other local event soon.