What Makes a Good Community?

Where Fleur ponders community and cats, while fighting the flu.

It’s been a busy April for me, with trips to Chicago and New York, and a few events in Denver. They were all short ones with little time to explore, alas, and I managed to pick up the flu (again) somewhere along the way. I’ve been feeling sorry for myself the past week, coughing up a storm and hanging out with kittens (so not all bad).

While I was laid up, the children’s book writing and illustrating community got a kick in the teeth from our Ambassador; I won’t add to the discourse as enough has been said, other than to share one of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou:

If someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

Sometimes, context cannot excuse what you say (and publish). Even if you are supposed to be, say, the Ambassador of Young People’s Literature.

On a more introspective note (being stuck in bed with the flu kinda does that), this whole situation made me think about community and our individual part of it. I’m a member of many communities: children’s book writers, mystery writers, my local community, my friends, my family. And we all play a part in taking care of the people in it, advocating when necessary, protecting even, as was necessary this week. I try to be a good steward of my communities, and this situation made me strengthen my resolve to be better, as my friend Tiffany said. In the end, it’s the only thing you can control: being a good human.

On a more uplifting note: this is me at a recent Battle of the Books author school visit (photo shared with permission). It was super fun, and organized by school librarians and teachers, the best of humans.

Where I’ve Been and Where I’m Going

Before the flu took me down, I had a great time in Denver, talking to Rocky Mountain SCBWI’s (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) Novel Connect group. They picked my book Get a Clue to use this summer, which I’m so honored by. See? Community. It’s how it’s done.

This event inspired me to think about what I would like to write this summer, as I’ll largely be pottering around the cottage.

How about you? Are you thinking of your plans for the summer?

I will be at the Wyoming Writers Conference in June; hope to see you there!

Helpedeehelp!

Because I’m all for advocating for myself, I requested my own book from the library, and they graciously bought it. If your local library doesn’t carry my book, would you mind requesting it? I’ll buy you a coffee next time we meet.

Also, if you’ve read Get a Clue and found it helpful, I’d love a review on Goodreads or the A’zon. It gives a book wings, I swear.

What I’m Writing

I’m letting the latest draft of my mystery for adults cool before going back for another round of revisions, and I’m outlining a brand-spankin’ new mystery for kids. This part of the process is so fun, and it reminded me to use my own book. Take your own advice, I say.

I’m also tinkering with a workbook to go with Get a Clue; more later…

What I’m Reading

I just finished reading The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey. What was interesting about this book is that I would not have categorized it as a book for adults. The book is written almost entirely from kids’ perspective, and not in a retrospective way. It could easily fit on the kid shelf, and it made me wonder how it made its way where it is. It’s a UK book, but still…

Great read, by the way, and I’d love to hear what you think.

What I’m Watching

Being laid up has been a great opportunity to watch Legends on Netflix, my kinda show.

I’m also watching a lot of documentaries, in an effort to pretend to be productive. It’s research, uhuh…

Fosterfloofs

Foster momma Reba went back to the Humane Society and was promptly adopted, which makes me very happy. She went from being on the feral side to snuggling on my lap.

The kind Humane Society foster team gave me a trade, this tiny, orphaned ginger floof who is now paired with his much chunkier brother-from-another-mother. If you want evidence of what mommas can do, just look at these two side by side.

Happy Mother’s Day, to all mothers and all the women who have been mothers to our children. I hope you know you are appreciated.

Community, again. (I’ll see myself out.)