Friends- I am beyond thrilled to announce that I have signed with literary agent Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency in New York. Being a #kidlit writer has been a dream of mine for a long time, and that dream came true for me when Bucket Filling Fairy was released in December of 2015. Being represented by a literary agent, especially one with Ms. Sinsheimer’s reputation, someone who values the creative partnership and truly cares about her clients… well, that’s an even bigger dream.  I believe Jessica and I will make a great team, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

I’m writing a new picture book with a co-writer that we’ll be submitting to editors soon. My co-writer Scott Turner Schofield is fantastic! I met Scott when he came to St. Lawrence University (where I taught for 11 years) as a guest artist. I was instantly impressed by Scott’s talent and passion. In learning more about him, I came to admire his creativity, tenacity, openness, compassion, and commitment to gender and diversity education and advocacy. We stayed in touch, and when I decided to write this particular picture book, I knew there was no one I’d rather write it with than him.

In Invisible Kip & His Pirate Ship, we learn three things about Kip: 1.) he’s invisible, 2.) he’s a pirate, and 3.) he doesn’t want to have a birthday party, but his parents are making him have one anyway. Invisible Kip is a story of friendship, pirates, & becoming the person you always knew you were. I think Bucket Filling Fairy would approve, as there’s a lot of kindness in this story, too. 🙂

As always, thank you all for your support!

~Ann Marie

 

 

 

 

I love teachers! Now that I’m a parent with two boys in school and now that I’m doing author visits in schools, I appreciate teachers all the more.

Here’s a “love letter” that I wrote for Huffington Post Education. Teachers: this one’s for you. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂

A Love Letter to Teachers

~Ann Marie

 

 

Check out my latest tip at 30 Second Mom, on a topic that is near and dear to my heart- bullying prevention:

 

Is it Rude, Mean or Bullying? 3 Key Terms You Need to Know!

When it comes to bullying, it’s important to discuss three key terms. Signe Whitson, L.S.W., defines the terms this way: RUDE behavior is “inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else.” MEAN behavior is “purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone once (or maybe twice).” Finally, BULLYING behavior is “intentionally aggressive behavior, repeated over time, that involves an imbalance of power.” Understanding the difference will allow us to help our kids if they believe they’ve been bullied.

For more info: 

Hi, everyone! Thank you so much for all the support for my picture book Bucket Filling Fairy! I am looking forward to returning to my home state of NY in May to visit more schools and do additional book signings. My schedule is just about finalized at this point. Check it out below. Hoping to see lots of bucket fillers in NY! Thanks again for your support.

Thurs. May 12: Woodrow Wilson Elem. (Binghamton)
Fri. May 13: Walberta Park Elem. (Syracuse)
Sat. May 14: performance of Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

Mon. May 16: Van Buren Elem. (Syracuse)
Tues. May 17: OESJ Elem. (St. Johnsville, between Utica & Amsterdam)
Wed. May 18: The Sara Marie School (Clifton Park, Albany area)
Thurs. May 19: West Galway Elem. (Albany area)
Fri. May 20: Mary E. Dardess Elem. (Chatham, Albany area)                                                        Fri. May 20 (p.m.): Event for Educators & Parents, Tiny Tots Tea Room (Clifton Park)
Sat. May 21: Book Signing at Northshire Bookstore (Saratoga)

Mon. May 23: Sherman Elem. (Watertown, North Country area)
Tues. May 24: Colton-Pierpont Elem. (North Country)

 

Below is my latest at #30secondmom (600 characters max.!), inspired by  all the support that family, friends, and fans have shown me! I am so very grateful.

Have a friend who’s a writer? Know a local one? Happen to love a new writer? Here are seven simple ways to support him or her: 1) Purchase a copy of the book (and buy new!). 2) Give the book to others as a gift. 3) Ask your local library or book store if they’ll stock the book. 4) Post about it on social media. 5) Write reviews on Good Reads, BN.com, Amazon, etc. 6) Invite the writer to your school or organization to discuss the book and/or do a signing. 7) Tell others how much you love the book. Spread the word! Grass roots efforts really do make a difference!

 

 

Hi, everyone! Thank you so much for all the support for my picture book Bucket Filling Fairy! I am happy to announce that I will be returning to my home state of NY in May to visit more schools and do additional book signings. I am already starting to put my schedule together. Here’s how it’s shaping up so far. I’ll post more locations as they become official. Looking forward to seeing friends and family in NY in the spring!

Thurs. May 12: Woodrow Wilson Elem. (Binghamton)
Fri. May 13: Walberta Park Elem. (Syracuse)
Sat. May 14: possible performance of Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
Mon. May 16: TBA
Tues. May 17: OESJ Elem. (St. Johnsville, between Utica & Amsterdam)
Wed. May 18: The Sara Marie School (Clifton Park, Albany area)
Thurs. May 19: West Galway Elem. (Albany area)
Fri. May 20: Mary E. Dardess Elem. (Chatham, Albany area)

Fri. May 20 (p.m.): Event for Educators & Parents, Tiny Tots Tea Room (Clifton Park)
Sat. May 21: Book Signing at Northshire Bookstore (Saratoga)
Mon. May 23: Sherman Elem. (Watertown, North Country area)
Tues. May 24: Colton-Pierpont Elem. (North Country)

Wed. May 25: TBA

We are pleased to announce that Bucket Filling Fairy is the winner of a Santa Choice Award! We’d like to thank everyone at Marriah Media and the Santa Choice Awards for this great honor. If you would like to order a signed copy of the award-winning book, please visit http://www.bucketfillingplay.com/order.

“If Santa approves, it has to be good!”

GIVE-AWAY TIME!

Would you like to win a copy of Bucket Filling Fairy signed by the author? To enter our contest, do the following: First, go to our facebook page: https://goo.gl/x92Kfx & like the page. Then… Like the give-away post AND share the post & use the hashtag ‪#‎ibelieveinfairies‬ You can also (Optional) include a photo of yourself or your child dressed as a fairy or w/ a fairy wand (Check out Ann Marie’s photo)! Winners will be announced on or around 10/23. Good luck, bucket fillers! Don’t forget the hashtag!

We are so excited to share this news with you… Award-winning author Carol McCloud has written the foreword to Bucket Filling Fairy! Ms. McCloud has been so supportive of me ever since I wrote my play Have You Filled a Bucket Today? which is based on the concepts of her books Have You Filled a Bucket Today? and Growing Up With a Bucket Full of Happiness. I greatly admire Ms. McCloud and her organization Bucket Fillers, Inc. and am honored that she has written the foreword to my book. Signed copies will be available at www.bucketfillingplay.com later this month. We can’t wait to share it with you!

Things are getting very exciting! The book is at the printer and I’m SO thrilled about my NY book tour! I am amazed and honored and humbled by the interest in author visits at schools. Thank you to everyone who has sent an invitation or inquiry. I only have two available dates left. I’m waiting to hear back from schools about those dates. I. Can’t. Wait. The schedule is below for those of you who are interested:

Capital District:

Nov. 30 Union Endicott Central (Ann McGuinness)
Dec. 1 Saratoga Central (Lake Ave.)
Dec. 2 Shenendehowa Central (Orenda)
Dec. 3 Johnstown Central
Dec. 4 East Greenbush Central (Genet)
Dec. 5 BREAK! (I may add a bookstore or library here.)

Central & Northern NY:
Dec. 6 Performance of my play? (PUBLIC EVENT) Location TBA
Dec. 7 unconfirmed
Dec. 8 Vernon Verona Sherrill Central (EA McAllister)
Dec. 9 Lyncourt School

Dec. 10 Potsdam Central (Lawrence Ave.)
Dec. 11 Canton Central (Banford)
Dec. 12 St. Lawrence U. Bookstore signing (PUBLIC EVENT)
Dec. 13 BREAK!
Dec. 14 Union Endicott Central (Thomas J. Watson)