Lauri C. Meyers
Lauri studied Finance at Ohio State University. After 11 years in corporate finance, she retrained her brain, and learned to be creative. Recovering from the brainwashing that required her to boil everything down into a one page recommendation, Lauri slowly started incorporating adjectives into her writing.
She is inspired every day by her two "dirty girls", who are always rolling in mud puddles or dousing each other in chocolate milk. In between loads of laundry, she blogs about her dirty girls and her writing journey at http://dirtygirlswriting.blogspot.com.
She is inspired every day by her two "dirty girls", who are always rolling in mud puddles or dousing each other in chocolate milk. In between loads of laundry, she blogs about her dirty girls and her writing journey at http://dirtygirlswriting.blogspot.com.
Lauri is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).
Twitter: @LauriMeyers
Google+: +LauriMeyers
Lisa J. MichaelsIn 2000, I wandered into our local bookstore and discovered Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends". It inspired me. It was as if something inside of me woke up, and I knew it was time to get serious. I began researching the possibilities of Children's Book Publishing.
I joined the SCBWI in 2003 and wrote my first manuscript, "Reaching for the Chocolate Milk", a compilation of 30 poems and illustrations. Through membership with the SCBWI, I discovered I'd made the typical mistakes of a novice.
Determined to become a better writer, in 2004 I accepted the position as Editor-in-chief & columnist for "The Wave", a small, local political newsletter. Although I wasn't writing for children, it gave me the courage to put my work in front of the public, and taught me to accept criticism with a smile!
In 2005, I joined "Howard Allen Events" and toured the state of Florida, presenting in Art shows, competitions and festivals. Self-taught, I built my first website and joined a local SCBWI critique group.
By 2006, I had written and illustrated my first 32 page picture book, "Purple Piggies", and began submitting it to publishers. I also joined Critiquegroup.com, and began to develop a good reputation and friendship with other illustrators nationwide. While continuing to teach and participate in Art shows, I was invited to join a professional online critique group. It featured several published children's book illustrators and provided me with the professional guidance I needed to improve my work.
I began conducting illustration workshops in 2007, and was invited to join "The Picture Bookie Showcase" of 50 top illustrators nationwide. I was the featured illustrator in two issues of "Wee Ones" magazine, and also a "Spotlight Guest". I did freelance illustration assignments for Greeting Cards, Websites, Business logos, etc. In October, I won 2nd place in the "ABC Children's PB Competition", and accepted assignment illustrating a Self Help book, containing over 40 illustrations.
In 2008 my local SCBWI group disbanded, so I filled the void by creating "The Yellow Brick Road". I joined "Dragonpencil.com" as a featured illustrator, and completed two picture book assignment for them. In the fall of 2008, I won first place in "Dragonfly Publishing's" Cover Art Competition.
2009 was spent working on the Picture Book, "Alphey Loves Letters" for Castlebridge Publishing.
The SCBWI asked me to produce and moderate a new on-line critique site for Florida illustrators, and "The West Coast Critters" was born. I also created "The Visual Storytellers Studio", an on-line illustration gallery, displaying the best work of 30+ children's book illustrators from all over the nation.
In 2010, I had a four page article published in "How to Write & Publish a Successful Children's Book", by Cynthia Reeser, through Atlantic Publishing. My name was included on the cover, as I wrote the foreword as well.
This year I've been focused on improving my illustrating skills, revamping my website, sending out submissions and acquiring illustrating assignments.
Lisa's Writing Sample: ( Picture Book segment)
“I know what we’ll do,” suggested Grand Pa-possum. “We’ll have hot tea with honey. It’ll soothe your throat, and warm our hearts like a thoughtful friend.
After tea, everyone climbed into bed.
They each called out, “Goodnight Grand Pa-possum,” except for one.
In her heart, Polly sang silently to the harvest moon.
The next morning, Grand Pa-possum spoke with the teacher and tied a string on Polly’s finger.
“This will remind you to keep quiet,” he explained, “so that your voice will return in time for the show.”
She tried not to cry. Being quiet was something new. She wasn’t sure if she could do it.
Lisa's Contact Information: wscribbles@att.net
Connie wrote, directed, and produced, her first stage play when she was 7 years old. This wasn’t her first attempt at writing. Connie began reading in preschool, and writing as soon as she could master holding a pencil. Previously, her tales were told in pictures. The stories would form in her mind and wouldn’t rest until she brought them forth, be it by voice or paper.
This is how she continues to feed her passion for storytelling, writing, voicing, anything to stop the haunting cries of the characters begging her to breathe life into their unwritten souls.
When not submitting manuscripts, Connie can be found writing new picture book stories, working on her first young adult novel, her first mid-grade fantasy novel or working in collaboration with her son on a book for boys.
Connie has been published in various magazines for both adults and children. She is most proud of being published in Highlights for Children, a magazine she read as a child.
Connie also runs her own business, “REEL Mustangs, where she and her young son provide voices for businesses, radio, television, film, audio books, animation and any other productions that need a vocal performer. Connie is proud to announce she has narrated two audio books for Penguin books.
She is a member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), Women in Animation, among other organizations, and is also a volunteer with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, as well as Soldier’s Angels. Connie, a native Southern California girl, lives with her family in a city filled with many stories to tell, the beautiful City of Angels.
Teresa is currently working on a second master’s degree in education, after which she hopes to become a high school English teacher. She earned her first master’s degree in creative writing from Chatham University in 2008, a time during which she developed her love of writing for children. She is primarily interested in writing middle grade and YA novels, and isn’t afraid to tackle offbeat topics.
Teresa also enjoys writing poetry. A few of her published poems (under her maiden name: Teresa Schartel) can be read here:
She also recently started writing the blog e(du)Citizen, where she chronicles her thoughts and theories about education and technology and teaching children how to use technology responsibly and creatively.
When Teresa is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, cooking, reading, and running.
Sample, from Out of the Blue
For ages 6-8
I snatched up my flashlight, which I kept by my bed, and raced down the hall. Barker panted wide-eyed in front of the tree.
I skimmed the tree from bottom to top with the flashlight. The ornaments danced in the beam. The rat pushed out the top, forcing the star to slide down the side of the tree and hang from the lights.
The rat’s cone-shaped head peered down at me. Its eyes glowed in the light.
We stared at each other like the cowboys getting ready to fight in the movies that Dad let me watch, even though Mom didn’t like it. I wasn’t angry like those cowboys, though. I didn’t want to hurt the rat, and I don’t think it wanted to hurt me. It looked frozen.
Barker poked my hand with his nose.
“It all makes sense.” I stroked Barker’s head.
He probably didn’t bark because his nose still hurt from being stuck in the trap. “This is why you’ve been whimpering by the tree at night, isn’t it?”
I yelled, “MOOOM. DAAAD!” On the third try, they darted to the living room.
“What is it?” Mom yawned. “What else can possibly happen tonight?”
Dad’s eyes followed the beam of my flashlight. He hugged Mom as he pointed to the top of tree.
“AHHHHHH!” Mom screamed. “AHHHHHH!” She made shooing movements at the tree. “Get it out! Get it out of our house!” She fell into Dad.
“Calm down,” Dad said. He walked Mom to the sofa, sat her down and flicked on the lights.
“Do you believe me now?” I asked.
“Sure do,” Dad said.
“The world’s biggest rat found a home in our Christmas tree. I think it’s dead.” The rat still hadn’t moved, even during Mom’s screaming.
“It’s playing possum.” Dad scratched his chin and examined the tree from a foot’s distance.
“What does that mean? Wait, it’s not a rat?”
“It’s a possum. When possums are scared they stay still, hoping that predators will just leave them alone.”
“How do we get rid of it? If it won’t move, I mean.”
