I know I'm one of the last to join the party...

but I’ve recently become enamored with children's author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds: both his ideology and his books. Such a generous heart, only wanting to nurture and grow each person's creativity, no matter how dormant. His website exudes the same giving spirit.  

I first read ish (and became an instant and forever fan), then the dot and I’m here quickly followed by Sky color and The North Star. Each one touched me. (Even his use of lower case for titles adds something for me.)

Yes, I love his artwork but I’m a writer, so I savor how he infuses simple language with richness and imagination. I love the sparse feel of his books, yet how powerful they are without ever preaching. They are, for me, emotive and inspirational.  

And I can’t believe the store he co-owns, The Blue Bunny Books and Toys, is right next door to me in Dedham. I'm there as soon as possible, just to poke around, buy books, and drink in the atmosphere.

His intro to The North Star choked me up. Some excerpts:

“Dear Friend, …The North Star is a story for all ages. Whether you are beginning a new journey, have decided to alter the direction of your life, or are starting out for the first time, this book is here to encourage you. …It is my hope that whatever The North Star may spark in you will continue to shine …as you navigate your very own wonderful journey. …This is my gift to you. Listen carefully and you will hear not my voice, but yours.”

My Conundrum

But first, I’m taking the plunge: this is my very first blog post. Woohoo!

Why today? Because last Sunday I went to my first event at The Writers' Loft in Sherborn. I wish I had heard about them earlier. What a homey place, filled with an extremely welcoming writerly community. (Thank you, founder Heather Kelly!) As I entered the building, it was so nice to be greeted by Josh Funk, who oozed good vibes, gave me a tour and showed me the ropes.

The workshop was “Creating an Author Website” given by techie extraordinaire, Ray Brierly. (A top-notch class for a nominal fee? Ridiculous in this day and age but very much appreciated.) I took this workshop because, as a pre-published children’s picture book author, my fear is that I won’t be credible without a website. But what kind of amazing content do I have to put on a website? No colorful book covers, no accolades to tout, no MFA title…

Anna Staniszewski, author and writing professor at Simmons College, was there with encouraging words of wisdom. Even though everyone often blogs about the same types of things, just write about your journey, from beginning writer to professional author. Your journey is unique to you. Write about the workshops you take (I take many), the conferences you go to (I go to many), and anything else you experience along your writing path.

Now I’ve been taking classes and writing for years. And years. And going to conferences. And reading other people’s bogs. But I guess all the pieces have finally come together. So I’m finally jumping in and blogging. Which is pretty big for me.

Now back to my conundrum: as a pre-published author, do I take the bigger plunge and make a website – which I totally believe I could do, thanks to Ray’s class. Well, I’ve given it much thought and, for now, my first toe in the water will be a blog. All of my info will fit, with room to spare, on a blog. Down the road, a website... 

So one step at a time, as long as I keep taking them. And since I’ve been at this writing stuff for a long time, I might be running sooner than I think.