6 for 6 in 12 x 12 and We’re Having a Party!

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We’re Halfway There!

It’s a BLOG PARTY and it’s happening HERE … and THERE … and ALL OVER THE BLOGIVERSE! The 12 x 12 in 2012 group is celebrating the mid-way point in our year of writing at least one picture book manuscript a month, and we’re gathering on blogs everywhere to have a PARTY!

Thanks to Julie Hedlund* whose creative mind came up with the idea of 12 x 12 in the first place, we have made it through six months of writing, and we’ve become a caring, cohesive, super-creative community in the process. (Note: the link that was supposed to be imbedded in the image to the left doesn’t work. So please go to this link to get to Julie’s post and the linky list of all party-participants. We’re Halfway There! )

NOW,  let’s get the party started! Let’s CELEBRATE!

Here at By Word of Beth, I’m celebrating that yes, indeed, I’m six for six in my quest to write a picture book manuscript every month. And since many of my books feature the arts in some way, the arts will figure in my celebration.

There’ll be a dancer:

 

Someone will give a dramatic reading:

 

And we’ll all sing together**:

Let’s start with O Susannalow’s “You know I can’t sleep without sheep, can’t sleep without sheep, I tried to get through a night without ewe, I just can’t sleep without sheep…”

Then we’ll trill a little pet-trill. O what fun to sing “How much is that Cupcake in the window? (Arf! Arf!) The one with the waggily tail…”

Get yourselves ready for the Bethany Telles Overture “Look! Over there! It’s a sea of pink advancing on the boys! … … … It’s a sea, it’s a sea, it’s a sea of pink, it’s a sea, it’s a sea, James is gonna sink. Pink stuff here, pink stuff there, what’s a guy to do? Too much PINK makes me seasick and blue.”

Next, we’ll tiptoe through LaTulippe‘s singing, “No water river’s never dry, there’s joy to reach the sky each day. We’ll all reach our own story’s end with manuscripts we’ve penned, rhyming with a friend, No Water Renee.”

With Dr. Julie DoLots, we can “Count all the animals, give each one a group, know a cloud of bats, a hive of bees; a group of monkeys is called a troop, Julie will give the scoop, counting all the animals with ease…”

The singing will go on long into the night (singing four hundred songs takes a long time — and I’m sorry I can’t post the lyrics of each person’s song here, but we have many other blogs to visit). Then, as darkness settles over us like a warm blanket before a bedtime story, we’ll raise our glasses in a toast

No, silly, that’s not a toast! That’s tea with bread and jam, with bread and jam, with bread, with bread, and JAM! Quite a different thing. (Hope your ears are okay after I hit that high note…)

We’ll raise our glasses in a toast…

 

Here’s to all the picture books that have been written in the past six months because of 12 x 12!

May the next six months continue to be good ones for the 12 x 12 “family,”

filled with support, learning, encouragement, ideas, and manuscripts galore!

To US!

 

*Please return to this blog on Wednesday, June 27th, for an interview with 12 x 12’s own Julie Hedlund!

 

**If you’re puzzled about the tunes for the songs, here are the titles of the originals, and may the composers and lyricists have mercy. (Note that parody is acceptable under current copyright/fair use law.)

1. “Can’t Smile Without You” by Christian Arnold, David Martin, and Geoff Morrow, sung by Barry Manilow.

2. “How Much is That Doggie in the Window?” by Bob Merrill.

3. Rossini’s “William Tell Overture” beginning with part of the opening fanfare, and very quickly moving to the gallopy bit.

4. “Moon River” by the wonderful Henry Mancini.

5. “Talk To the Animals” by Leslie Bricusse, from the 1967 musical Dr. Dolittle.

 

68 thoughts on “6 for 6 in 12 x 12 and We’re Having a Party!”

  1. Vivian Kirkfield

    Wow, Beth…love the photos…especially the little ballerina and the precocious (and precious) reader. 🙂
    It’s definitely been a wonderful journey for me…and sounds like it has been for you as well!

    And I love toasting with toast…especially a piece that has jam…any apricot or raspberry available?

    1. Beth

      Thanks so much, Vivian! The precocious, precious little reader is my honorary nephew, many years ago, reading a book I’d written and put together just for him, to his bunny, which I’d also made for him.

      Mmmm… apricot jam is/was one of my favorites!

  2. Julie Hedlund

    Oh my goodness Beth, I don’t think I could love this post any more! I got tears in my eyes when I saw your manuscript photos. I don’t know why it took THAT for this to finally seem so concrete to me – that you all are out there WRITING! 🙂

    And I LOVE the lyrics to your songs (great minds think alike), AND I love my new title. 🙂

    Great job!

    1. Beth

      Thanks so much, Julie! I confess I got tears in my eyes when I read your comment about it becoming real for you. It’s kind of mind-boggling actually, to think what your seed of an idea has wrought!

      Glad you like your new title — it seems apropos!

  3. Joanna

    This song lyrics are priceless and I, too, LOVE the photo of your manuscripts. This is a swell celebratory post, Beth! Wonderful!

  5. Rob-bear

    A picture book each month. Goodness, but that is very clever and talented of you. (It would take this Bear about six years to write one book.) The photos tell their own story, and they’re exciting, too.

    I hope the next six months go as well.

    1. Beth

      Thanks, Rob-bear! Note that they aren’t necessarily polished, finished manuscripts — we’ve committed to write at least a draft each month, which is already more than I did last year.

  7. Cap'n S

    Woooo, party time! You’ve been working very hard. It’s definitely time to celebrate! Way to go!

    ::lugs over containers of ice cream:: Mind if I leave these here? 😀

  10. Pam

    WHAT A WAY TO CELEBRATE, LADY! WOO HOOOOOO! This post is amazing and what a tribute to everyone you gave. I am so proud to be part of such an amazing group of people. The impact of this group is powerful. Well done, Beth. Very well done!

    1. Beth

      Thanks so much, Pam!!! It’s an incredible group, truly incredible. I’m so glad we’re BOTH a part of it!

    1. Beth

      Thanks, Ramona! Should I admit that it isn’t *real* champagne (I don’t drink) — it’s ginger ale, but it’s Canada Dry which is advertised as “The Champagne of Ginger Ales,” so um, close? (I can’t drink ginger ale any more, either, but opening a small bottle of ginger ale isn’t quite as bad as opening a bottle of champagne just for a photo shoot!)

    1. Beth

      Thanks, Penny! It was fun setting it up! I hated to take it all down again, but there wasn’t space for my dinner plate!

  15. Tina Cho

    Very creative, Beth! I especially like the Bethany Telles Overture and “Can’t Sleep without Sheep.” Happy 6×6 to you!

  16. Hannah Holt

    Wonderful re-cap of a wonderful six months. I agree with Penny and Julie, that manuscript photo was perfect. Your tribute to a few fellow 12x12ers was delightful and sweet. You are a “value adding” valuable member of this group!

  19. Bethany Telles

    Oh my GOODNESS!!!!

    Beth… Does your talent and generosity know no bounds??!! You are HILARIOUS! I will be singing about all the Pink to that tune for the rest of my life. Thank you so much!

    BIG congrats to you on completing your SIX! Happy, happy half-aversary to you!!!

    1. Beth

      Thanks so much, Bethany! Glad you enjoyed your song. I love doing things like that.

      Happy half-aversary to you, as well!

  20. Genevieve Petrillo

    YAY! This post is all about me. Well…maybe not ALL, but I recognized the tune to my song right away. Thanks, Beth! I would like to drink the ginger ale, lick the jam off the knife, rip the face off the teddy bear listening to the story, trip the ballerina, and of course – knock all the manuscripts off the table. That’s my idea of a party! You rock, Beth!

    Love and licks and party mischief,
    Cupcake

    1. Beth

      YAY! You are such fun, Cupcake! It’s definitely a lively party with you around!

      Happy half-way in 12 x 12 to you and your Mom!

  24. Laura Anne Miller

    Beth-you are so creative and generous in all you do. I feel like I was at the party by reading through the comments, hearing the clink of glasses, a few tears shed, laughter, murmurs of approval and wonderful friends to hug and an especially awesome hostess! Thanks for inviting us and letting us blow out the candles with you! Blessings for the next 6 mo to come!

    1. Beth

      Oh what a lovely comment, Laura! Thank you so very much. All the best to you, as well, as we head into the next six months!

  25. Stacy S. Jensen

    Wonderful and I love the visual. With the fire in my town this week, it reminded me that my manuscripts are not all digital. I really need to correct this. Here’s to the next six months!

    1. Beth

      That fire is such a scary thing, it’s a wonder any of our Colorado members can think of anything else.

      Thanks so much, Stacy! Here’s to the next six months for all of us!

  26. Renee LaTulippe

    HA! Too clever, and I am honored to have a song written for NWR — and Moon River, no less! Oh, Beth, somehow you know me so well. 🙂 LOVE the pic of your manuscripts — what a great idea. Sadly, I have not been so prolific, but if I get to three PBs by December, I’ll be happy. Congrats on your success with 12×12 — will be looking forward to seeing your name on the shelves so I can say I knew you when… Let’s keep hitting those high notes! 🙂

    1. Beth

      You’ve done so much more than picture books, though Renee — you’re doing well! (and with those two little charmers of yours, it’s a wonder you get any writing done!)

      Someday we’ll sing together — how much fun would that be? 🙂

  27. Sheri Cook

    LOVE the image of your pretty manuscripts and colorful numbers marking them! Congrats on a very successful half-way mark in 12x12in2012 Picture Book Challenge!

  29. Loni Edwards

    Cheers Beth! I loved your post! Your blog and comments on FB and my blog have been one of the sources of inspiration for me. I am so glad to have met you and some of the other 12×12 and PPBF writers! Congrats and here’s to the next 6 months!

  34. Jarm Del Boccio

    Very fun, Beth…and clever, too! I like it! Finally I have had a few minutes to go down the list and comment on all these wonderful posts. You sure know how to have a party…

  35. Pingback: Wrapping Up 12 x 12 in 2012 “Halfway There” Blog Party | JulieHedlund.com

  36. Damon Dean

    Beth…never guessed from your previous posts that you are such a PARTY ANIMAL! Woo! What a way to start a party, and challenge us to have fun. Loved the toast and jam…congrats with your 6 completed MS. I am probably going to print my five at least, and put the picture behind my computer on the wall.

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