It’s so nice to get paid to write children’s stories. It’s easy to just get caught up in the ‘get
published’ mode, sending submissions out to anything that ends up in print, so
when payment comes… WOW. If anybody has
a good children’s story, check out www.knowonder.com
as it’s still accepting stories and pays very professionally for them. 1 June
is when the website re-launches and all the new and wonderful stories will be
featured; a story a day.
As for other markets, two short stories have been sent out
to Chicken Soup for the Soul, who are constantly producing excellent
books. It’s a good market to capture, so
fingers crossed, I’ve got it right. If
not, I’ll keep trying.
The WIP (Lillia and
Rose) will be drafted by August and then it’s the next couple of months for
revising and sending out to agents. It’s
really coming into its own and I’m loving getting elements of Viking lore into
the story (as the main character’s father is a historian… well, he has an MA in
folklore and history, but he now works as an accountant in the city, so much
for formal education).
The Colchester Oyster Fayre is getting closer and closer… my
list of goods for sale is growing. I’ve now got pirate bags and pouches in treasure
map print. Not very medieval, but as I’m
in the ‘pseudo-historical’ section, I figure I can stretch things a bit. It was fun using my 1940’s hand cranked
singer sewing machine (so there’s historic for you ;)
Ooh, and my tent for the fayre is ENORMOUS… I never
appreciated just how big it would be (I finally had a chance to test it out at
Grange Barn) and it’s too big to have the canopy up. It will be an excellent place for friends to
chill out at after competing in the archery tournament. I’ll be pimping up the back to have sheepskin
throws and a couple of blankies for ‘medieval crash-out’. I doubt I’ll have time to paint the panels
before the fayre, but I aim to have a full woodland up, with golden ink Shakespearean
fairy quotes and maybe some Tennyson (or at least Mallory).
I’m still not happy with my website. I’ve uploaded some new photos but I need to
re-photograph many of the items with my ‘new’ second-hand manual zoom Nikkon
(thank you amazon marketplace!) so they look a bit more professional. The website keeps being uncooperative. I’m no tekkie and my computer doesn’t like
updates, but I’d really like to put a more personal and woodland spin on the
website. I may attempt to bribe a friend
into helping me update it.
And finally, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for my friend
and fellow historic fiction writer Laura – her book is with an agent who’s just
asked to view the complete manuscript!
