Trista Herring Baughman's Blog, page 7

Perspective

I was pretty excited about the children’s book festival. I didn’t have much time to prepare, as I’d been traveling. I wasn’t entirely sure I’d be in town. About a week and a half before, I put things together. I paid the entrance fee. I ordered copies of my book and a proof of my newest book, which I hoped would arrive on time. I designed and ordered a poster and bookmarks. I got a ring toss game and treats for the kids. Asked fellow authors what they would bring, made lists, and many other boring-ish, time-consuming things. When I say “boring-ish”, I mean potentially boring to my readers. I am a book nerd who loves planning things, making lists, talking to fellow authors about making said lists, and most of those other things I mentioned above.

I had certain expectations going in. I hoped to sell books, of course. But I also expected to meet lots of people–other authors, new readers, etc. I hoped to meet R.L. Stine and possibly get an interview. I hoped to not get sunburned. That sort of thing.

Then I went to the book festival and that is where perspective comes in. After it was all said and done, I had the wrong perspective. My expectations were not met. I did sell books, but only five. I met a few people and though most were friendly and kind, a few were not. I won’t go into detail as it really doesn’t matter. I didn’t get anywhere near Mr. Stine because I had to stay at my booth. Despite loads of sunscreen, I got sunburned badly. And to make everything even worse, a staff member came by and told me that there were drinks and refreshments inside for the authors.

That last part doesn’t seem so bad, but I’m not done.

How nice! I thought to myself. I decided to go check it out. There was a lovely table with a spread of sandwiches, snacks, and ice-cold drinks. As I went to grab a drink, a security guard stopped me and said, “This is for authors only.”

I assured her I was an author and showed her the tag I’d been given upon arrival, then continued about my business. Only to be interrupted again by the same lady.

“What’s your name?”

I stated my name.

“This is only for the headlining authors,” she said.

A humbling experience.

Apparently, there was some miscommunication among the staff.

I turned and left feeling insulted and quite grumpy.

I stayed a while longer, but the heat won. I packed up a little early and went inside for R.L. Stine’s author performance with my husband and kids. It felt unprofessional, but I don’t regret it one bit.

On the ride home, we stopped for ice cream and I sulked a bit. But then I changed my perspective.

I did not sell only five books. I sold five books! Five more children (at the least) will read my story, The Magic Telescope. And I hope they enjoy it. I did meet some lovely people, some of whom had wonderful things to say about my books. I got feedback on Halloween Night and Other Poems from children and teachers and parents. Some of our very best friends showed up and I got to catch up with them. My husband and boys were there with me the whole time and they were so sweet. My friends who couldn’t be there texted to root for me. True, I didn’t get to speak to R.L. Stine, but my kids did. They got an autograph and their picture taken with him. And he was fantastic. Overall, I think the book festival was great for the community.

I can’t find anything positive about sunburn, but it is always a good idea to stay humble. One day, hopefully, I’ll be a headling author. Or perhaps I’ll organize a children’s book festival, and when I do, I will treat even the local, lesser-known authors like they are headlining authors themselves.

What brought about the change in perspective?

Maybe it was the ice cream.

Don’t let little things get you down, y’all. Keep lookin’ up.

God bless,

T

Upcoming Events

Hey, y’all! I hope you’re doing well. I’ve been really busy homeschooling, helping my mama, writing, etc. And loving it.

I’m a complete novice at formatting books, but I’ve been hard at work figuring it all out. Fingers crossed I will catch on sooner than later. I would like to have an ebook as well as a hard copy of my books. Canva has been a great tool to work with. Doing all this from scratch gives me a greater appreciation for traditional publishing. There’s so much more to do when you self-publish.

I have mentioned a few books that I’m working on and hope to have in print soon, but the one I’m most excited about is a pirate chapter book for kids, titled PiRats. It is the story of Rigley and his adventures on the high seas as he sets off in search of a way to save his family home. If you’ve read The Magic Telescope, you will find a familiar character in PiRats.

I’ve been working on PiRats since 2008/2009. What can I say? You make plans and then life laughs. But I’m nearly finished! (Knock on wood!) I’m wrapping up two books (Halloween Night and Other Poems and Zombiesaurs), then I will focus on PiRats wholeheartedly. My author friend Bradley Wind was kind enough to design my cover. I absolutely love it. I feel like announcing it to the world will give me more motivation to get it wrapped up.

So, look for the release of these three books soon. Also, I am hopefully attending a children’s book festival in Shreveport, LA in May. More on that once I’ve actually signed up. I’ll be sure to get you all the info.

Mississippi Folklore‘s group has reached over 1.5K members! I am loving the community. If you love Mississippi and Southern Folklore, come check it out.

Happiness being a dessert so sweet,
May life give you more than you can ever eat.

God Bless,

T

Halloween Night and other poems!

I have a zillion and one projects in the works.

That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are quite a few. I’ve been hard at work on decluttering and time management, so writing has yet again taken a back seat. I still squeeze it in when I can. As you can tell, I haven’t mastered time management just yet.
I just finished a project that I hadn’t intended to. It’s a book of children’s poems titled “Halloween Night and other poems.” Fifteen poems of the spooky, whimsical, and silly variety for your little book worms’ (and hopefully your) enjoyment. Here’s the cover! (I’d love to hear your first impressions in the comments.)

I made the entire book with Canva Pro. The book itself is complete, minus the book blurb on the back. The next step will be formatting it for ebook and hardcopy editions. I’m not always tech-savvy, so fingers crossed!
This book is special to me because there are poems I’ve written during all stages of my writing life. There’s even one I wrote way back in 1997 (I was 12!).
I wasn’t a willing reader in my early childhood years, but I did enjoy being read to. I began to like reading on my own a little more when I discovered Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein. My kids love their books as well. We’ve also enjoyed all of Julia Donaldson’s books, which I may have mentioned before. These poets have inspired me for years and I sincerely hope my books are as inspirational to kids in the same way.
I’ve sent digital copies to a handful of beta readers and requested book blurbs from fellow writers (something I’ve never done before).
I still plan to finish Zombiesaurs and have it released first, good Lord willin’. We shall see. I’ll keep y’all updated on the progress of my books.
Have a wonderful day and stay safe.

~T

Folklore Galore

I took a bit of an unintentional break from blogging. I started Allie Casazza’s Uncluttered Kids and I’m still working on Declutter Like a Mother. It’s great! I have a long way to go, but I’m working on it each day. I’m looking forward to starting Allie’s newest book, Be the Boss of Your Stuff, with my kids. I also can’t wait to start the Simplify Your Homeschool course, but that will have to wait a bit.

I haven’t written much about our homeschool, but it’s such a big part of our lives, and I get so many questions about it, that I will likely do some homeschool posts in the near future.

But what I want to talk about today is folklore. I started the Mississippi Folklore Facebook group a few years ago. I made it a place to share and discuss Mississippi and Southern legends, superstitions, and folklore. And for research. I want to round up a few good folktales and legends to make a book.

I’m really excited about this group. We’re currently at 569 members and I don’t know most of them! That means there’s tons of potential for hearing stories I’ve never heard before. I’ve already learned a lot.

It’s a private group, so posts can’t be shared, which was kind of a bummer. So, I made the Mississippi Folklore Facebook page to share stories and memes. If you love Mississippi Folklore, have stories to share, or want to join in the discussion, come join us!

Mississippi is my home state, although I’ve also lived in the great states of Nebraska and Louisiana. I love all folklore, but Southern folklore is my favorite. I’ve been researching and planning folklore to (hopefully) focus on a different aspect of folklore once a week for my blog posts.

So, that’s what I’ve been up to. I’m also working on some blog posts for Pikes Peak Writers. Y’all check ’em out.

Like the gold of the sun,

Like the light of the day,

May the luck of the Irish Shine bright on your way–

Like the glow of a star

And the lilt of a song,

May these be your joys

All your life long.

~An Irish Blessing

Character Sketch

Sinbad in The Magic Telescope by Trista Herring Baughman. Copyright 2008, 2014 Illustrations by Eumir Carlo Pongasi Fernandez.

Character name: Sinbad (aka Sinbad the Sailor Cat)

Species: cat

Fur: black

Eye color: greenish-goldish

Personality: loyal, brave, adventurous

Distinguishing features: No tail, chip in his left ear, pirate accent

Backstory: Seth found Sinbad when he was a kitten and named him after his favorite pirate. They are best friends, and as such, sometimes get on each other’s nerves. But they always have one another’s back.

Likes: fish, high-sea adventures, long naps

Dislikes: dogs, aliens that try to kidnap Seth, veterinary visits, being stared at

Hobbies: napping, swordfighting

Biggest fear: fear? ha! (*whispers* vacuum cleaners, but don’t tell anyone)

I make character sketches for most of the characters in my books. They look a lot like the one above, but more detailed. I like to know everything about my main characters and to have it all in one place.

My favorite character in The Magic Telescope is Sinbad. While all the other characters in my first book are purely from my imagination, Sinbad is real.

I grew up on a small farm. We had cats, horses, chickens, dogs, rabbits, geese, ducks, goats, cows, emus, and mules, to name a few. My sister and I helped our parents care for the critters and we named each and every one. Several of these have found their way into my stories.

I remember when I found Sinbad. He was a tiny, tail-less, black fur ball; he fit in the palm of my hand. He hissed at me at first but we quickly became best friends. I knew right away that his name was Sinbad. He had a lot of character.

(not really Sinbad, but so cute!)

He was an outdoor cat but hung out with me in my room often. He liked to lay on my bed and kick his little blue football while I did my homework. He kept me company when I did my chores and when I was stargazing.

Sinbad circa 2002-ish

As he grew older, he would go off on adventures. He got into a few fights and one resulted in a chip in his left ear. He’s still out there adventuring. You can read about his adventures in The Magic Telescope and several upcoming books that I have in the works, including a pirate chapter book.

As I mentioned early on in my blog, The Magic Telescope was a Creative Writing assignment. I was having writer’s block and getting frustrated over it. I decided to do something else instead. I opened our hall closet to grab something and saw my telescope. The title popped into my head. Everything just flowed from there.

But I edited it and re-edited it for years. I can’t thank my beta readers/initial editing team enough! They re-read all my edits and were probably so, so tired by the end of it.

The initial setting is (in my mind’s eye) a mix of my favorite woods in MS and my favorite lake to visit in NE, which is where I lived at the time I started writing the story.

In the book, Sinbad is Seth’s best friend. I was excited to throw them into a strange new world where animals can talk. So, of course, he had to talk like a pirate.

My teacher and peers encouraged me to make the story longer. I considered it but decided instead to make it the first story in a series.

The Magic Telescope was first published with Tate Publishing. At the start, it seemed to be a great company. The editors and illustrators were great to work with. I got to talk with the illustration team and tell them how I envisioned my characters. This was a big deal to me. They were amazing. I loved my finished book, minus a few typos that were supposed to have been fixed before printing.

Later however, it became a disaster when the CEO was caught embezzling. That led to me getting the rights back to my book and self-publishing. If you haven’t already, grab your copy here!

I look forward to developing Sinbad’s character in my stories and bringing him to life for all of my readers, while keeping him alive in my memories.

Until next time, dear reader, keep lookin’ up!

The Magic Telescope is back in print!

What’s in a Name?

Most of us are familiar with the line from Romeo and Juliet “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. I can’t argue this Shakespearean logic, but would you want to smell a rose if it were named “skunk blossom” or “death dagger”? Those names might make you want to keep your distance.

Contrary to the popular cliche, people do tend to judge a book by its cover. At least to some extent. It’s no different for your story’s characters, particularly its protagonist. So, you want to choose your character names carefully.

Sometimes your character’s name may pop into your mind right away. Other times you might need a bit of help. Here are some tips that I’ve found helpful:

1. Don’t use too many names that begin with the same letter or sound, as this can muddle your characters and make it hard for readers to distinguish them from one another.

2. Keep in mind the era of your setting, especially if you’re writing historical fiction. You will usually want the characters’ names to fit the period.

3. Try to avoid character names that are too long or too hard to pronounce.

4. This is more of a preference, but steer clear of overused names. If you must use a commonly overused name, make sure your character has some distinguishing characteristics to help them stand out in the crowd.

5. Choose a name that embodies your character’s personality. It may help to make a character sketch. Compile a list of physical traits, mannerisms, strengths, weaknesses, etc. A character sketch will help you visualize your character in your mind’s eye. Naming characters and creating character sketches can be fun. It often helps me when I’m experiencing writer’s block to take a moment to focus on a character or two.

If you’re looking for that perfect fit for your character, but haven’t quite found it yet, don’t despair. There are lots of resources out there. Here are a few to get you started:

Baby name books. These are nice since they usually include name meanings and origins.

Online name generators. There are lots out there. Hit up Google to find the right one for you. I’ve encountered specific ones such as wizard and elf name generators. Some have fields for gender, personality traits, ethnicity, etc.
Combine names. Take the first three letters of your mother’s name and the last three of your name. What did you get? It may not be so great, or it may be kind of cool. My character name would be Shasta. I bet you know a lot of people with names. The possibilities are endless!

Your family tree. I recently began researching my family tree. I was delighted by the number of unique names I came across. Of course, I grabbed my writer’s notebook and made lists! I organized my lists by gender and era for easy access.

The Newspaper. Birth announcements, obituaries, articles, maybe even the crossword puzzle might give you that much-needed inspiration.

Old tv-shows and movies. My name came from one of my mother’s favorite soap operas of the time. I have come across a few gems this way.

Always carry a notebook with you to jot down interesting names you come across from day-to-day. You never know when you might flip back through your lists and find the perfect name for your current project.

What’s in a name? Potentially the power to make or break your story. I hope these tips and tricks will help you overcome obstacles and find fantastical character names. What are some ways you have discovered character names?

Decluttering is so nice!

Happy Tuesday, y’all!

I did Declutter Like a Mother 2022 challenge with Allie Casazza last week. Today we dropped off the donate pile; it felt so good. It was three small boxes of things, but I could feel the difference. So much lighter.

As a homeschooling mother to two young boys, I struggle with clutter. Our house is clean but oh-so cluttered in certain areas (the schoolroom and bedrooms). It really affects my mood and drains my time.

Life happened, whether an illness, a busy schedule, or something else. And somewhere along the way, my systems and orderly home became a big ol’ mess. I didn’t have time to go through old bills, toss or rehome finished curricula, or donate things that weren’t used.

I appreciate all we’ve been given from family members and friends. I’ve attached a tremendous amount of guilt to the thought of parting with any of it.

So, I joined the DLAM challenge and it helped. It’s nice to walk by freshly decluttered parts of your home. They feel breathable and welcoming.

I didn’t sign up for Your Uncluttered Home this go-round; we’re also budgeting like a Ramsey. But I did grab Allie’s book on Audible. 

I know this will help with my writing, teaching, chores, morning/night routines, etc. I can’t wait to dig in and get more of our home decluttered! 

Anyways, I hope you have a beautiful day. I’ll get back to writing about writing soon.  

God bless,

T

P.S. These are non-affiliate links, btw.

A Blank Page Can Be So Intimidating

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://booksbytrista.files.wordpress..." data-large-file="https://booksbytrista.files.wordpress..." src="https://booksbytrista.files.wordpress..." alt="" class="wp-image-712" />Photo by Eva Elijas on Pexels.com

Or a blank screen. I have just a teeny bit left of my pirate chapter book to wrap up before my rough draft will be complete. The second draft and all drafts to follow are my favorites. I like to edit and tweak stories a lot more than I like writing them for the first time because I have something to cut and polish.

It’s really just a matter of connecting the dots. I don’t know if I’m being lazy or if I just need to turn up my pirate music to get in the right frame of mind. I also have a lot going on.

I’m on day 3 of Declutter Like a Mother challenge, I’m tackling decluttering the boys’ rooms on my own, picking up where I left off with Makeover Your Mornings (Time management is something I NEED in my life), and Christmas break is over starting tomorrow, so I’m also preparing my kiddo’s homeschooling schedule, etc., etc.

It may sound like I’m all over the place (and that’s a little true), but I have goals that I’m steadily working towards.

My Goals:

DeclutteringTime ManagementMaking more quality family timeSimplifying our homeschoolSpending more time outdoors. Prioritize my writing (books, blog posts, research, social media, etc.)

These are my goals for the year and I have steps in place to meet these goals. They’re a work in progress. You can read about making your own goals here.

I hope 2022 is an amazing year for all of you. God Bless.

Goodbye, 2021; Hello, 2022!

Despite my best intentions, I haven’t written those next three posts on folklore. I’ve also neglected my Zombiesaurs illustrator duties. But I have spent quality time with dear loved ones and forced myself to work on a final chapter of a book I’ve been working on FOREVER-ish.

I’ll just readjust my goals and deadlines. No biggie.

It’s been a rough past couple of years for me, as well as many others around the globe. If you’re one of those others, keep lookin’ up. It may never be the same, but it will get better. God is good. May He bless and keep you all. I wish you a New Year filled with peace, happiness, and success.

P.S. The answer to the last post’s riddle is r.

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

I heard this riddle from Lewis Caroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (great book, by the way) when I was younger (back in the days before Google existed ), but I never heard it answered. So, when I came across the answer a few years ago, I was ridiculously giddy. (I’m nerdy like that.)

Have you ever watched Disney’s Aladdin cartoon movie? The part where Jafar has the lamp, just outside the Cave of Wonders–“YES! AT LAAAST!”–It was like that. I was somewhat disappointed for not having thought of this answer myself, but not so much that it overshadowed my joy. 

picture from Disney’s Aladdin

Why is a raven like a writing desk, you ask? 

I waited years; you can wait for a couple more paragraphs. 

Kidding! 

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Because Poe wrote on both!

I later discovered this isn’t THE answer, but one of many. It’s the perfect answer for a Poe fan like me. This riddle is open to many interpretations. If you’re interested to read more, including Lewis Caroll’s, check out this blog post. What’s your answer? Why do you think a raven is like a writing desk?

I just felt like sharing in case of someone out there like me pondering this riddle for years and not thinking to look it up. You’re welcome.

I love riddles. I think I get that from my daddy. Here’s a riddle for you to ponder.

What is seen in the middle of March and April that can’t be seen at the beginning or end of either month?

Drop your answer in the comments. I’ll tell the correct one in my next post.

My next three posts will be about one of my most favorite topics, folklore. With holiday to-do lists, homeschooling work, and extra-curricular activities to be done, the post days may be off a bit. Until then, keep looking up.

God bless.

~T

Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.
Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.
Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

~an Irish blessing~

P.S. Don’t forget to remember to tell your folks and friends that you love them. If any of my folks are reading this, I love y’all!

[image error]