Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Knowledge is power; reading is fun

Check out Query Shark to get a good idea of what an agent does and doesn't want. There are examples of query letters and the dissection of them. This should not deter you from writing and submitting, it should help you write better. Not all agents are as tough as Judge Judy.

I don't know about you, but I would rather hear straight forward truth than sugar coated nonsense. False hope is not hope. I can deal with what I know, but if I don't know, then I'm making an educated guess.

On a lighter note, I received my Silver Boomer anthology titled, Flashlight Memories. My poem is on page 162.


A Classic Tome
Linda O'Connell 2011 (C)

The Poky Little Puppy, its dog-eared edges
and illustrations familiar as the word on the pages,
a book bequeathed to my children,
I've handed down through the ages.

Slow poke is covered with finger smudges
numerous spills, and now grandbaby stains.
A Little Golden Book it may be,
but a classic tale it remains.

In her two year old tag-along,
get-it-in-gear, hurry-up-world,
I reach for Poky, slow her down to a snuggle
and read my favorite classic to Nana's girl.

This book is packed with wonderful essays and poems about childhood reading memories. Perfect gift for a graduate of any age, a special person in your life, an upcoming holiday or just for yourself to leisurely enjoy.

10 comments:

Diane said...

Thanks for the link. I would rather hear the direct truth then be unclear too. :O)

Clara Gillow Clark said...

Thanks for sharing your POKY LITTLE PUPPY poem, Linda! Congratulations on its publication, too!

Unknown said...

Hi Linda, I think anyone would want it directly anytime. Hope you've had a great week so far.

Susan said...

Oh Linda, Pokey Little Puppy was one of my kids' favorite books. I think I still have it on a botton shelf of my library. That's where children's books are, waiting for yet-to-be-born grandchildren! Susan

Sioux Roslawski said...

Me, too. If it sucks, tell me.

Your poem came to me tonight, after watching my granddaugher for a few hours in the evening. We were on the floor, playing with her little plastic animals and millions of "accessories," and because it had been a hellaciously long day, my eyes would occasionally close. She kept asking, "Grammy, what are you thinking of now," since she worships Grammy and is sure that if my eyes are closed, I am immersed in deep thought. I did not have the heart to admit, "Grammy is about to fall asleep."

Grammys and Nanas rule!

Anonymous said...

Hope Open Mic went well tonight! And I agree 100%. But you already knew that.

Linda O'Connell said...

Diane,
Thanks for stopping by.

Clara,
Thank you for your comments.

Odie,
I am still in recovery mode from the conference.

Susan,
How sweet is that, a bookshelf for your future grandbabies.

Sioux,
I had to laugh, been there, done that.

Dianna,
Poor attendance, probably because the weather was so nice and we writers are worn out from the weekend.

Janet, said...

I love your poem! Congratulations on having it published. I love little golden books and have a big collection of them.

Anonymous said...

Love your blog title! I came by way of Susan's blog...and i'm so glad to have made yet another craive connection here!

"Painful truths are better than soothing lies" is the quote i'm reminded of. Straight forward works better for me than nonsense anyday!

Stop by sometime. I'd love to share my poetry with you too!

Ciao Bella!


Creative Carmelina

Anonymous said...

Love Poky! Congrats!