Wednesday, August 3, 2016

IWSG & A Sneak Peek at Baby Moo's Great Escape


Happy IWSG day! I am one of the co-hosts for today (gulp!) so I am looking forward to hopping around and meeting new members of our group. The IWSG was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh and meets on the first Wednesday of every month. To see a list of members, along with my fellow co-hosts for the month, visit here.

This month's IWSG question is "What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?"

This is a fun question to answer. My first piece of writing was a book called It's A Dog World After All that I wrote in the fifth grade. I actually wrote a post about this masterpiece a few years ago. Here are pics of the cover and the first page. 




I guess you could say it was published because it was made into a book for a grade-wide contest. I won second place and was thrilled to death. The book is now gathering dust in my closet, but it's kept safe in a cherished box of memories. 

I don't know why it took me more than thirty years before I tried to write another book, but I'm glad I finally got back on the writing horse. I couldn't help but smile that this first book was written about animals (big surprise to anyone who has followed this blog), and now I'm going to have my children's book about animals out in the world in just a few short months. It kind of feels like a full circle moment!

So to conclude this post, I just want to share a sneak peek of the illustrations for my children's book Baby Moo's Great Escape. This is a picture of the title character Baby Moo, along with his friends Missy the dog and Ruthie the cat. These animals all live at Sunrise Sanctuary in Marysville, Ohio. 


Aren't they cute? I'm so excited with the artwork! It's just perfect for the story.

And now I'm off to start my visiting so Captain Alex doesn't come after me! ;) I'm looking forward to checking in with everyone. Happy August!

79 comments:

  1. Get out there and mingle!
    Amazing you still have that first book.
    Looks like your children's book will be really cute. The illustration is great.

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  2. Aw, that's such an adorable illustration for your children's book! The artist did a great job in bringing Baby Moo and his friends to life. How fun to get a glimpse of the book you wrote in fifth grade, too. So cute!

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  3. Congratulations, Julie. I love the graphics for your book. You have a great illustrator. Wonderful.
    Thank you also for co-hosting this month's IWSG.
    All the best with your book.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Patricia

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  4. Aw,the illustration is so cute. And you're so lucky you still have your first book. I don't know what happened to mine. If only time travel technology was available or if I was Hiro from Heroes (been binge watching Heroes on Netflix), I can go back in time and save it.

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  5. I think your first story is adorable!

    And I love the illustrations for Baby Moo. That is going to be one fun - and cute! - book.

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  6. Congratulations on your picture book. It looks adorable! You can pull out your first book when you start doing author visits. The kids will LOVE that!
    Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
    Mary at Play off the Page

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  7. A cute illustration for you upcoming book. How wonderful that you kept your first hand written book. Thanks for co-hosting today, Julie.

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  8. My son wrote a book called My Five Cats when he was in 1st or 2nd grade. It was the cutest thing ever and I still have it (even tho it was supposed to stay at the school in the library where it would no doubt have been thrown out by now). Congrats (belatedly) on your second place prize for your story and Congrats again on Baby Moo's Great Escape :)

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  9. Your first book looked adorable. See, you had a great talent, even back then. I like your illustration of Baby Moo and friends. Congrats, Julie.

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  10. What an incredible treasure, your first book written oh so many years ago! Baby Moo's Great Escape with the engaging artwork promises to be a very popular book.
    Thank you for co-hosting IWSG.

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  11. That illustration is marvelous! Congrats on the new book. I remember writing and illustrating a little book in grade school. It was about a pair of mice that travel down a river on a raft and encounter scary things like bees and spiders. I don't know where it is now, but if I ever find it, I'd be so tickled to read it again.

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  12. What a cute little book! Congrats on the artwork, it looks great!

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  13. Hi, Julie,

    SO cute.... how cool to win a second place prize!

    Baby MOO is too cute! All the best with your NEW adventure in Children's books!

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  14. Wonderful! Love the pictures and the title of your first book.

    Hugs and chocolate!

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  15. That is so cute! Considering that I live on a sailboat, I love that their plan is to sail around the world by themselves :-)

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  16. Thanks for co-hosting, Julie. My first response after reading your post... Congratulations! You've come a long way, baby! I'm thrilled for you, Julie. You are what we refer to in the business as a born writer. Pat yourself on the back.

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  17. Oh my goodness. I love that first book of yours. I'm sure I wrote books like that as a kid, but I didn't keep any of them. That is a real treasure.
    Your children's book sounds so cute. Congratulations on the artwork. Thanks for co-hosting.

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  18. My children each have some 'published' books from elementary school. The PTA ran a program to put the kids' writings into book form. You were a better illustrator than any of them. Love the new artwork. Moo is really cute.

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  19. Darling pictures. Who's the artist? I love this sort of cozy image.

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  20. Everyone in this blog hop seems to have physically kept their first story so they still have it to show. I wish I'd have kept mine.

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  21. That first book is precious! And congratulations on Baby Moo. What adorable animal characters.

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  22. I like both of your books. I like the 'Baby Moo' illustration. Though since I live on a farm I know you don't have hay bales as a backdrop in the place where you keep a hay-eating critter. Though calves are less fussy than what I raise--- sheep and goats. If a goat gets to your stored hay she will knock it down, trample it into the dust--- and refuse to eat it 'cause it's dirty. That's why farmers cuss a lot.

    Nissa Annakindt
    http://myantimatterlife.wordpress.com

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  23. Your story looks adorable, Julie! I LOVE the dog illustrations. And I love that a cow is the MC in your upcoming children's story. That is unique. :)

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  24. I love that you still have your book from fifth grade. That's so neat! Congrats on your new book! Wonderful illustrations in both of them.
    Thank you for co-hosting!

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  25. Hi, Julie, this is my first time at your blog. It is beautiful! I’ve joined your blog. Thanks for co-hosting this month's #IWSG session. Wow! Your handmade book is beautiful! Bravo on your new release. I also like them both. All the luck with this.

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  26. Julie, I think your first story is absolutely ADORABLE!
    Congrats on Baby Moo's Great Escape. It looks just as adorable.
    ...and yes, it's a full circle moment...

    Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG this month!

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  27. Full circle, isn't it wonderful? I just know Baby Moo will be a great success and the illustration is delightful!

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  28. Definitely cute, Julie! Just darling! As a retired elementary teacher, I got a kick out of your fifth grade published book! I, too, have returned to "real" writing after a long break. Thanks for sharing your story. And thanks for co-hosting! It's a great experience to take on. Enjoy your co-hosting Day!

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  29. That is so cool that you have your first book still. It's adorable. And great looking start to Moo's book!

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  30. What an adorable first book! Yeah, why did it take you so long to get back to it? Silly head. ;) How did I miss the news that you have a children's book coming out? That's awesome!

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  31. I love that you still have your first book and illustrations! I wish I still had mine (it was only one page and one illustration). Congrats on Baby Moo's Great Escape - it looks awesome, too! And thanks for co-hosting this months blog hop.

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  32. It must be so much fun to write a children's book. Thank you for co-hosting. Wishing you great success with Baby Moo's Great Escape. Sounds delightful. Blessings

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  33. I loved the art in both of them for very separate reasons. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  34. Julie,
    Great post. I love your grade five book and can see why it won in the contest. The illustrations in your new book look awesome too.
    Thanks for sharing your story and for co-hosting the blog hop. I'm really enjoying it.
    Best Wishes,
    Jo-Ann Carson
    (don't worry - you've already visited me.)

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  35. Such a cool book you made in 5th Grade :)

    And I love the artwork for your new book, Baby Moo looks so playful.

    Nice to meet you,

    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles

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  36. That's pretty cool that you still have the first book you wrote. The illustrations for Baby Moo's Great Escape look fantastic!

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  37. Cuteness abounds in this post. Love the illustrations of your childhood masterpieces! Marysville sounds like a great setting for your book.

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  38. I agree with Cherie. Very Cool. The artwork looks great.

    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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  39. It's so awesome that you still have that book. It looks like a cute story. The artwork for Baby Moo's Great Escape is beautiful. Congratulations on having it out soon.

    wwww.smpace.com/blog

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  40. The art is fantastic. Absolutely amazing! If I had young kids (or grand-kids) I'd definitely buy such a book.

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  41. Oh my gosh, it really is a full circle moment for you! You really are doing what you were meant to do! Awesome. And thank you for co-hosting today!

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  42. Thank you for co-hosting today's #IWSG, Julie. Absolutely love the dog depictions on the front of your first novel. All of the animals on the new cover have eyes filled with stories, the cat and dog eager to have Moo home and Moo filled with stories to tell them. Best of success with Baby Moo's Great Escape.

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  43. I'm a big animal lover myself. What adorable illustrations (on both your first book and now the one soon to be published). Glad to hear you took a little time off after your first "success." I'm excited to be part of the IWSG and can't believe I waited so long to join. I signed up to receive your updates by email. Thanks for being an encouragement to other writers. I'm #258 on the list.

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  44. You still like animals! Great post! Thanks got sharing and thanks for cohosting!

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  45. Baby Boo is going to be a big success!!!!

    I love that you still have your book from 5th grade! It's a wonderful memory to hold onto!

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  46. Love, love, love the illustration! That's going to be one great book ♥

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  47. OMG, that's great that you still have your first book! I wrote and 'illustrated' mine when I was about ten. It was along the lines of The Secret Garden. Sadly, I have no idea what happened to it. Sigh. Your new book looks amazing. Good luck and thanks so much for co-hosting this month! Eva

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  48. Love the dogs you drew. Those are awesome.

    And you know I have a fondness for cows. Congrats!

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  49. That's cool that you still have your first book and that it did well. I also have a couple of books from grade school, but our school had a publishing press that regularly put out student works. I have two of mine as well, but they didn't come with winning anything, and were from a couple of years earlier. So...very simple is an understatement.

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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  50. Adorable! I can't believe you still have your first book! I think I've moved 20 - 25 times since high school and a lot of stuff was lost along the way. This artwork is perfect. It made me smile--which is a very good thing after the day I've had. I'll be back soon. I plan to "follow" you so if you see me lurking about it's because I'm interested in your writing progress--not because I'm a stalker. ;-)

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  51. That's so cool that you won 2nd place and still have the book. And Baby Moo looks awesome. The best of luck with it, Julie!

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  52. You have come full circle. I used to write short stories when I was little for school and often got quite good grades for this. I love the illustration! I also love your drawing...so sweet looking

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  53. Oh wow, I wish I knew where mine was! Those are great illustrations, though. :D

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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  54. Love the illustration for your new book. My granddaughter will love it. How great you still have your "book" from 5th grade. Thanks for co-hosting.

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  55. That book you did in Grade 5 looks great. You did drawings and everything! Definitely something to cherish. Writing was in your blood and just needed time to rise again Julie. That illustration for your upcoming book looks so amazing and sweet. Can't wait.

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  56. Such a wonderful illustration! You must be so thrilled.

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  57. That is going to be such a beautiful book. Love the illustrations.

    I used to win blue ribbons in school for writing in the PTA contests. Then I too waited 30 years to write a book.

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  58. Hi Julie - what a great first book ... It's a Dog's World - sure is - the lucky ones in a loving home. Gorgeous art work for your new creation - Baby Moo's Great Escape ... cheers Hilary

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  59. This that a Corgi?! Awwww! Love your flashback and flashforward. My first pubbed piece was a fractured fairytale, also in 5th grade that was featured in my elementary school paper. An addiction was born . . .Thanks for hosting, Julie!

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  60. They are so cute! And so is your first book :)

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  61. Congrats on both of your publications! I shared my first story (which wasn't made into a book) this month, too. And I've returned to writing several years ago after a very long break. But I was surprised to see how many similarities there are in my style then and now , although I'm happy to say that my illustration style has progressed quite a bit.
    The illustration looks great, by the way.
    Thanks for co-hosting.

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  62. It makes me happy that you still have the same passions. I often look at my daughter, who is so passionate, and has such specific things she cares about, and wonder if she'll still care about those same things as an adult.

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  63. That's so cute - as you say, your writing has gone full circle. I love how you still have your first story and the illustrations for your new book are just gorgeous. Congratulations! Thanks for co-hosting - it's great to meet you Julie.

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  64. Hi Julie! What a cute first book, and I'm impressed that you won 2nd place! I love the illustration for Baby Moo's Great Escape, and I'm so excited that you've decided to write a children's book! Congratulations and thanks for cohosting!

    Julie

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  65. Love the book! How cool that you still have it!

    I used to hide in my closet with a flashlight and write short stories. We writers get bit by the bug young. ;)

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  66. Awesome! i can't believe you have a picture of it:) So neat:)

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  67. Cute illustrations. I didn't keep any of my early writing - I had a purge when we moved, aged 11, and started again. Then threw out all the post eleven stuff too. From 15 onwards, it's all there, thank goodness.

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  68. Aw, those illustrations are adorable!It's neat that you still have them.

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  69. How absolutely fantabulous that you still have that first book! That's quite a treasure, and who knows? When you're a famous author, maybe that humble book will garner a million bucks at auction. (I mean, kinda like if something like that from Hemingway or Steinbeck were found!) I wrote a lot of stories and books as a child, too, but don't have a single one of them now. Unlike the adult me, I was VERY prolific as a child, so I guess my mother threw out all of those reams of paper decades ago, so she had room for her furniture. HA

    I'm so excited about your picture book. The illustrations are terrific, and I'm sure the story is adorable. (Um, the dog isn't a vampire or anything, is he...? Just checking!)

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  70. They're definitely adorable, Julie. I'm sure Baby Moo will be adored by everyone. :)

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  71. So cool that you still have that, thanks for sharing and yes, full circle with the new release. The artwork is exceptional! You should be very proud!

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  72. I love that you saved the book all these years!

    Yvonne V

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  73. What a neat way to come full circle! I love the illustrations in both books! :)

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  74. Well, I think your illustrations for "It's a Dogworld..." are perfect but the ones for Baby Moo are pretty great, too.

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  75. OMG! Baby Moo is totally adorable! Now I want a black baby cow too! I love that you can transform your love of animals into a children's book. I hope this book is the start of many more to come. :)

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  76. Hi Julie,

    I'm going to keep this comment short because my comments haven't been publishing on another blog site.

    Gotta' love Baby Moo! It all incorporates your passion for writing and your caring for our precious animal friends.

    Gary :)

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  77. That's so adorable! Love that illustration. So much fun you were writing when you were that young. :)

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  78. I love the illustration for Baby Moo! He and his friends are adorable.

    I think it's fantastic you've still got your first book. Such wonderful memories.

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  79. I love the illustration for Baby Moo! He and his friends are adorable.

    I think it's fantastic you've still got your first book. Such wonderful memories.

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