by Chrysa Smith I love this time of year. The leaves are changing. Pumpkin everything is out. And school has settled back in. Maybe it’s because I have fond memories of beginning school each September, after picking out brand, spanking new supplies. But it’s no less exciting now that school is a distant memory. Or…
Detailsby Chrysa Smith Writing a book can be both exciting and exhausting. While it’s wonderful to catch an idea and try to make it come alive, it doesn’t always survive the cruel pen of the editor. Don’t get me wrong. My editor is worth her weight in gold. And after the edits, the product most…
Detailsby Chrysa Smith Nothing. That about says it. No trips. No visitors. But, there is something exciting that I am and will continue to be working on—and that’s my newest book. Yes, the brain unfroze and the book, with a working title of A Grand Slam Birthday is in the works. In fact, it’s in…
Detailsby Chrysa Smith This time, spunky Dory Oslo is up for another adventure. This time, it’s not in the garden. This time, she’s got lots of other kids involved and Dory’s in trouble. Dory’s coming back—this time, there’s no kidding around. It’s time to play ball! So look out!!!
Detailsby Chrysa Smith After all of these years writing children’s books, it just struck me the other day—tonight, some children, somewhere, might be falling asleep to one of my stories. Wow! That amazes and humbles me. And it got me to thinking about the very best things that come with this sometimes strange career path…
Detailsby Chrysa Smith Seems on the East Coast, during the warm months, everyone heads down the shore. In NY, it was the beach. Regardless of what you call it, there’s just something so calming, soothing about ocean air wafting up through your nostrils and sand firmly planted under your feet. It seems a naturally great…
Detailsby Chrysa Smith I’m a born and bred New Yorker. For better and worse, it’s my stomping grounds. It’s the place where I lived, grew and worked, and like most early life experiences, is deeply imbedded in me. So, when I decided to write The Upside-Down Gardener, I decided to set it in a city…
Detailsby Chrysa Smith So here we go. I’m unstuck–at least a little. I’ve got a manuscript. It’s on the right track and far better than the first two attempts at an eighth book. It continues as a Dory Oslo Adventure—the baseball-playing gardener from The Upside-Down Gardener. The story line is close enough to be…
Detailsby Chrysa Smith Well, shops and restaurants aren’t the only things shut down this past year. So is my creativity. With the desire for another book looming, all inspiration has seemingly dried up. And here’s what I learned. Since 2007, I’ve been able to pump out children’s books about every two years. It was…
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