Author Brooke Williams
!Social Contacts
  • Author Home Page
  • About the Author
  • Books
    • The Dating Itinerary
    • The Leftover
    • Someone Always Loved You
    • Wrong Place, Right Time
    • What Happens at the Airport
    • Another Backwards Christmas
    • The First Backwards Christmas
    • After the Final Dandelion
    • Dandelions on the Road
    • Accept this Dandelion
    • Mamarazzi
    • Beyond the Bars
    • God in the Kitchen
    • Taxi Delivery
    • Small Town America
    • Children's Books >
      • Shower in the Rain
      • Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut
      • Duck's Year of Hard Trying
  • Freelance Writing
  • Blog
  • Contact

Children's Book Announcement

5/20/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
I have always loved to write.  I readily admit that fact.  When I was in college and the professor would assign a 5 page paper, I would have to hold back a shout of joy.  My only problem is that 5 pages was seldom enough.  So while most college students were fixing the margins bigger to write less, I was making mine smaller to have more room.  I like to write and I like to write lengthy things.

So novel writing seemed like a natural fit and it's something I've always wanted to do and am thrilled to be having more success in now.  But when my 5-year-old asks me to tell her a story at night, I don't turn her down.  I also don't tell her novel-length stories.  Sometimes, I just tell her what we did that day or what we are going to do the next day.  Other times, I come up with something more imaginative. 

One night several months ago she wanted a story about a sheep specifically.  She always enjoys stories where things are lost and want to find their mommies as well.  From those requests, "Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut" was born.  I spun a story with a wiggly baby on my hip trying to stick her finger in my mouth and a 5-year-old laying on her bed, back exposed so I could tickle it.  As the story came to a close, my 5-year-old laughed.  "Good story, mommy," she said.  And then she asked me to tell it again.

The next night, she wanted it again.  And again and so on and so forth.  She enjoys variety and this was the first time I'd told her a story she requested again.  So, the writer in me knew I had to write it down...if only to remember it later!  I wrote it down and in a slow moment when I was caught up with my work and on a complete and total whim, I sent it to a children's publisher.  The author in me took over, I guess.

Several months passed and though I still occasionally tell it to my daughter, I had mostly forgotten about the story...or at least the fact that I actually submitted it for publication.  When I got an email from Wee Creek Press, I assumed it was a thank, but no thanks type of letter that most authors receive over and over again during their careers.  When I opened the email, I realized it was a contract offer.  Wait, what?!  Did I just get a contract offer for the children's book I never intended to write and sent in on impulse?

Um, yes!  And so now I am pleased to announce that "Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut" (title could change, who knows) should be available in February of 2016.  Now if only I could draw... haha  Luckily the publisher will take care of the illustrations for me because I most certainly cannot.

This is just another piece of proof that when you dream, you should dream big because you never know what could happen.  It also proves that if you don't try, nothing will ever come of anything.  And you never know what WILL come of trying, even if you don't expect it!

I can't wait to read "Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut" to my daughters.  Even if one will probably be too  old for the story once it comes out in a few years.  It's something I'll always cherish as the first creative story I told her that got a good laugh out of her.  I hope it brings joy and laughter to many other children.

Picture
1 Comment
lindsey paley
5/21/2014 02:03:08 am

What a lovely story Brooke. Congratulations on the publishing deal. I agree totally with what you say. As a writer how can we refuse when our children ask us to tell them a story. I did exactly as you did except my son is 13! Star Jumpers was born and you have just inspired me to submit. Fingers crossed.

Reply



Leave a Reply.



    Author

    Brooke Williams is a romantic comedy and children's book author.  This mother of two writes during naptimes and enjoys keeping a blog about the writing process, among other things.


    Archives

    November 2021
    August 2021
    May 2019
    March 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014


    Categories

    All
    Accept This Dandelion
    Articles
    Author Brooke Williams
    Author Interview
    Beyond The Bars
    Book
    Book Marketing
    Book Publicity
    Book Review
    Brooke Williams
    Characters
    Ebook
    Editing
    Freelance Writing
    Goodbye Crutches
    Interact Media
    Mamarazzi
    Moving
    Novel Writing
    Paperback
    Prism Book Group
    Radio
    Radio Personality
    Radio Voice
    Reasons To Write
    Reviews
    Someone Always Loved You
    Starting A New School
    The Content Authority
    The Writer's Coffee Shop
    What If
    Writing
    Writing Clients
    Writing Jobs
    Writing Voice
    Wrong Place Right Time

    RSS Feed