Debbie Shakespeare Smith

Wanted: Good Books

2011-09-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

The start of this school year has certainly gone good for me. Perhaps that's because I retired last June. I smile as the school buses drive by. I smile as I sit down in front of the computer and do the thing I love most: write. And hopefully, I will find more time to blog now.

I have spent all morning trying to find some good middle grade/chapter books. I have requested several at the public library that looked good: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Bystander, Slob, Operation Redwood and Scat are among several that I asked for. If anyone has a good picture book or middle reader to share, I would be interested.

Celebration of Learning!

2011-03-12T14:06:00.001-08:00

Independence/Fort Osage International Reading Association along with the School District of Independence had a wonderful program for young, aspiring authors. This year the featured author was Lisa Campbell Ernst. The students seemed to have a wonderful morning. I had a table to sell my books, there was a Scholastic Book Fair, Mid-Continent Public Library, and several other tables for the kids to enjoy.

Young Authors Conference

2010-03-06T12:30:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to be presenter this morning at the Fort Osage School District, Young Authors' Conference. What a great experience!

To be honest, I'm used to working with younger students so I was a little apprehensive. I shouldn't have been. These kids were a delight. They were very interested in writing and very creative.

This is one of those special times when writing means more than just putting words on paper. These kids and their stories will be with me for some time.

Thank you Fort Osage staff and students. I was most impressed with the whole organization!

Where Did the Summer Go?

2009-08-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

Summer has nearly come and gone. I always think I'll get lots of writing done, but the swimming pool, computer games and surfing the Internet seem to call me away from writing. However, the whole summer wasn't wasted. I did finish one manuscript and I'm working now toward finishing another. The first is in an agent's hands right now . . . crossing my fingers!

I'm back to work as an elementary school secretary. I returned kicking and screaming, since spending the day doing "my own things" seemed a little more fun than spending the day at work. My husband sympathized but packed my lunch and said, "Bye bye now!"

It's a rainy day, so back to writing---as soon as I finish surfing the net.

Book Signing

2009-03-15T04:41:00.000-07:00

What a surprise! I did a book signing yesterday at Parkside books. Of all my book signings it was probably the slowest I've experienced.

Even though I hadn't seen a classmate since high school, I immediately labeled him as "a good friend" when he surprised me with a visit. (I won't go into how he announced himself when he arrived---but it was priceless.) I label him "good friend" because we were able to visit and laugh and reminisce so easily, even after many years.

We talked about old times in elementary school, old friends, and briefly about what we had done for the last few years. (Okay, lots of years.)

Anyway, it was the highlight of my day. And if you read this "good friend," thank you so much for stopping by! The visit was a wonderful surprise.

New book: The House of Chicken

2009-01-20T19:06:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! My newest book should be available by the end of this month. It's always fun to actually see your book in print.

I've been involved in a Reading/Math club after school Wednesdays and Fridays. I've done creative writing classes, reading classes and even a class helping the kids write their own picture books, but a math class is what they asked for, so that's what we're doing now. Surprisingly, it has really been fun. We read a book about using math in every day living, then we play some games involving math. The kids seem to really be enjoying it---and so am I.

At the end of the month I speak to a local IRA group. I'm not sure what to expect, but it's always fun to talk about something that you're interested in.

Well, watch for The House of Chicken, and make sure to ask for it at your local book store or library. Volume 2 of The Broom Closet Detectives should be available within the next few months.

Anxiously Awaiting The House of Chicken

2008-10-30T05:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm now working on Volume 3 of The Broom Closet Detectives, and anxiously awaiting the printing of The House of Chicken, which should be out shortly. As a writer it is so hard to have patience.

Meanwhile, I am conducting writing/reading clubs after school. I just finished with a Reading Club and I'm now in the process of doing a Creative Writing Club with 2nd through 4th graders. They seem to all be excited about what they are doing, so it has been a rewarding thing to do.

In September and October I had book signings at Parkside Books and Borders Books. Both experiences were absolutely wonderful. I guess it's those type of things that keep writers writing!

Parkside Book Signing

2008-09-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

We had a very nice turn out for the book signing. I was pleasantly surprised to see some people who I just had expected to make it. The owners of Parkside Books just couldn't have made the experience any better. It's a wonderful store, run by very enjoyable people. All in all it was a terrific day.

Summer Has Come and Gone

2008-09-05T16:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I was right. I blinked my eyes and summer was over. I'm back working at school and very busy! I'm sure things will settle down in another week or so.

Tomorrow I have a book signing at Parkside Books in Blue Springs. I'm very excited about it and hope to see several new faces as well as people from school. As always, my wonderful husband and publicity manager will be right there by my side.

I'm anxiously waiting to hear when my new book, The House of Chicken, will be in print. It was a book that took hours and hours to write and rewrite, but I also think it is one that makes me laugh more than anything else I've written. I'm anxious to share it with my readers.

The Broom Closet Detectives, Vol 2 is due out some time next summer. I know I should begin the next volume. But it's the beginning that's always the hardest. I guess I should take that giant step and S-T-A-R-T!

Summer Fun

2008-06-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

I'm afraid summer will be gone before I blink my eyes. School was out for me June 2nd (I'm a secretary), but I'm afraid I will be returning July 22 . . . which is just too soon! I have done lots of writing, reading, playing the Sims 2 (yes, even grown-ups play computer games) and I have even enjoyed helping my husband mow.

I recently signed a contract for The Broom Closet Detectives, volume 2. So now I patiently wait (ha ha) the arrival of my two new books: The House of Chicken, and The Broom Closet Detectives, volume 2.

I'd like to include a picture of someone very important to me. The "lawn-boy" and my husband!

The Count Down

2008-04-27T13:33:00.001-07:00

I'm now patiently waiting for school to end (I'm a secretary in an elementary school) so I can get back to writing full time. I've been working along during the school year and finished The Broom Closet Detectives Vol 2. It's now at the publishers. They have 6 months to decide if they want it, otherwise I will be sending it to other publishers and/or agents for review.

In the mean time I've been working on a couple early reader chapter books. I'm pretty excited about them. But, alas, it's all about the wait. When you send your manuscript out to either a publisher or agent it can take MONTHS before it gets returned. The name of this game seems to be hurry up and wait. . . .so I must hurry along.

After Thanksgiving

2007-11-25T10:58:00.000-08:00

Time seems to just fly. We have now passed Thanksgiving and are heading for Christmas and the New Year! Wow....

Tomorrow I return to work, which I really like, but after being home for 5 days for the holiday, it will be a hard thing to do.

We had a grandchild stay all night with us Friday night. That's always fun. Especially since we both love computer games. While we were waiting on one game to load, she asked to see one of my out-of-print books: Diary of a First Class Jerk. (Of course that made me love the visit even more!) Later her mother told me she'd like a copy for Christmas. I looked on the Internet to see about purchasing a copy, since I have only a few left. I was shocked. The cheapest copy I could find was $75.00, and it went up to over $300. I'm amazed. I have no idea why the high price??? But I believe I will be taking an old library copy off my shelf and making that a Christmas present to her.

Well, I'd better take advantage of my time. I need to be thinking of marketing ideas for The Broom Closet Detectives. And I need to start working on another book, which I've started, but there seems to be no end to editing a story and making it better.

Barney, our Bichon, is anxious for Christmas. He doesn't seem to be one bit disappointed that Thanksgiving has past.

The Broom Closet Detectives

2007-11-18T12:53:00.000-08:00

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my copies of The Broom Closet Detectives. It's always exciting to see all your hard work actually in print. I work at an elementary school and the kids have been so excited to get the book in our school library. This book is a compilation of mysteries, all revolving around the same cast of characters. The stories follow Kenneth Rafferty, Jeff Monroe and Amy Windship as they open The Broom Closet Detective Agency. They investigate a variety of funny and adventurous mysteries.

And to add to my excitement, I just signed a contract for another book: The House of Chicken! Yeah!!!!