I'm taking fall bookings now!  Already I've got quite a lot lined up but I can still find room for a few more.  I'll be adding the public venue gigs to my calendar along with the themes when my summer gigs slow down a bit.

This summer has been a fun challenge. Why? Because the theme, Get A Clue At Your Library, for fifth grade and lower and YNK, You Never Know for twelfth grade and under, has made me look at doing some types of stories I don't often do.  Except for Halloween, I don't usually do ghost stories.  I also don't do mystery stories very often.  So this has been interesting for me to craft some programs around these sorts of themes!

I love the sort of Rubik's cube work I do when I work on a theme that is nearly or completely new to me.  It's really a great creative exercise that really gets me going!

Summer isn't over yet.  Most summers I feel overwhelmed with the number of gigs I have but this summer I'm feeling pretty laid back.  Maybe I have the perfect number for me this year.

Usually by the end of summer (July) I'm creatively drained.  I recharge my batteries and get ready to start telling again by the end of August (for schools) and the beginning of September (for Libraries).  This year I started out being drained way too early (January) but now, I feel full of creativity!

I'm working on fall programs, which will include Travel The World stories, Holiday stories including Halloween Stories to Make You Shriek, and Curriculum stories for some of my school clients.

I'm also already working on the next Summer Reading programs.  I expect to have materials sent out to local libraries about those by mid September.

The next project I am planning to work on will be writing a picture book based on one of the stories I tell.  If you know any publishers looking for a great picture book let me know.  I have quite a few ideas for picture books I'm going to be working on eventually.  I also have a novel I want to write. Finding the time and mental space to do so is a challenge though.  This first picture book story will be a great one to tell or read!

I also want to research "healing" stories.  The idea of creating programs to help individuals in a group setting with difficult life issues is work I'd like to get into.

I think it will be an exciting year this year.  I can't wait to get started!