October 29, 2021

 

Halloween is almost here, and I decided to enter Susanna Leonard Hill's Halloweensie Contest. Rules, 100 words or less, kid friendly for ages 12 and under, and the words glow-in-the-dark, goosebumps and goodies must be used in the story. Here is my entry:

 

 

A HALLOWEEN SNACK

by Debra Daugherty

100 Words 

 

Lacie squirmed to fit into her skeletal glow-in-the-dark costume. She turned off her bedroom lights and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

“I’m so scary, I gave myself goosebumps. I’m sure to bag lots of goodies when I go trick-or treating.”

At the window she heard a knock. When she spied a neon green creature peeking in, she fainted.

“I didn’t mean to scare her,” the alien told his mother.

“It’s okay, son. We couldn’t eat that human anyway. She’s nothing but bones.”

“Look! A witch and a dinosaur are headed this way! Let’s snack on them!”

CRUNCH! MUNCH! BURP!

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

 

 

October 1, 2021

 

The #FallWritingFrenzy sponsored by Kaitlyn Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis is back! My 200-word story, THE BAND AUDITION, is based on the photo of four skeletons on a stage playing musical instruments. It’s time to add a new member to the band, and several ghouls and monsters have come to audition. Here's my entry:

 

THE BAND AUDITION

by Debra Daugherty

 

A crumpled flyer taped to the cemetery gate caught Skelly’s attention.

The Tombstones need a trombone player for the Halloween Bash on All Hallows Eve. Must enjoy shaking and rattling bones to the music. Auditions start at midnight at the haunted mansion.

“That’s my kind of gig,” said Skelly. He grabbed his instrument and drove his hearse to the mansion.

Competition proved fierce. Both the Wolfman and Dracula played There Will Be Blood. Zombie wowed everyone with his rendition of Thriller, and Frankenstein performed The Monster Mash.

Skelly’s knees clinked as he shuffled to the stage. He introduced himself to the four band members. “I’m Skelly Ton from Peaceful Valley Cemetery, grave marker 51. My number is Shake, Rattle and Roll.”

One-armed Bone-Jangles sang, and the other band members jammed along as Skelly blasted the toe-tapping, knee-jerking, eye-popping tune on his trombone. When Skelly finished, the band cheered and his competitors stomped their feet. If Skelly had skin, his cheeks would have blushed beet red.

“You’re hired,” said Bone-Jangles.

On All Hallows Eve Skelly’s music woke the dead. Every ghoul from miles around gathered at the haunted mansion to hear him play.

Wolfman declared Skelly’s performance a bone-chilling, howling success.

 

 

 

 

 

May 2, 2021

 

April proved to be an amazing month. My biggest news is a publisher wants to publish three of my picture book manuscripts! Young Dragons Press's editor, Clarissa Willis, offered me a contract on April 5th for a story I submitted April 1st. We met on zoom and discussed other works I have, and she choose three for me to submit. Of those three, she picked two. On April 13th, I signed a contract for three PBs with release dates starting in 2023. 

 

I submitted to #PBTrain Party a query letter and manuscript for a contest. I did not win, but my story, DIVA ZEBRA, was selected as one of many that came close.

 

FOX'S FOLLY, my Spring Fling Kidlit Contest entry, did not win, but it was one of many given honorable mention. Kaitlynn Sanchez, one of the organizers for this contest said this on twitter about my entry: "Yes yes yes! We just adored this one, such a cool vibe and beautiful lesson, drew us in for sure, keep sharing your talent: we're excited to see where you go next!" Her encouraging words made my day.

 

Last month, I entered Vivian Kirkfield's #50 Precious Words Contest with my story, RAIN. It did not win, but Vivian told me this on twitter after I told her how much I enjoyed entering the contest: "I'm so glad, Debra. Thank you for being brave and entering. And just to let you know, RAIN was a favorite of one of the judges! I love that you enjoyed participating - connecting and interacting with this incredible #kidlit community is a prize in itself." I thought it was so kind of her to share that information with me.

 

Author Lori Degman encouraged me to nudge her editor about a rhyming picture book I sent last September. It's one Lori read and found nothing to critique. She said to send it to her editor, that she would love it. I hope she's right.

 

I also nudged the art director who liked another of my PBs enough to pass it on to his editor last December. The publishing world moves slow, so I hope a small nudge won't count against me.

 

At the last moment, I decided to enter the Astra International PB Contest. The deadline was April 30, and I submitted my story April 24th.

 

Because I am now under contract with a traditional publisher, I withdrew my applications for the Karen Cushman Award, and the Ann Whitford Paul Award Contest. I'm still eligible for the Work-in-Progress grant as that is not one of my stories under contract, but with so many wonderful submissions for this grant, I don't expect to win. 

 

Also in April, I won a PB critique on #PBChat with Hannah Barnaby. I sent one of my detective stories from my series of 3, and Hannah gave me excellent advice. I also received some top notch suggestions from my critique group. 

 

The following week on #PBChat, I won a picture book by Tammi Sauer, NOT NOW, COW.

 

With all this good news, one can easily understand why I consider April a lucky month.

 

It's now May, and I'm looking forward to my SCBWI-IL network's meeting on Monday, May 3rd. My writers group, The Springfield Scribes, is hosting award-winning author Michelle Schaub. Michelle is giving a presentation on poetry. A grant from SCBWI-IL pays her fee. For that I am very grateful, as is everyone in my witers group. This meeting is free and open to all who register. At last 70 people are expected to attend our zoom meeting!

 

The SCBWI is offering free webinars again starting in May. I enjoy those a lot. I also continue to enjoy Tuesday nights' Kidlit Distancing Social, and Sarah Aronson's SCBWI-IL monthly zoom chat. I continue to learn my craft and improve my writing, thanks to these wonderful opportunities.

 

Also, the kidlit community is outstanding. The encouragement, suggestions, help and congratulations I receive from various social media outlets is unbelievable. Writers and illustrators support each other. 

 

My heart is filled with gratitude for all the opportunities opening up to me. My advice is to never give up. Keep on writing, and your time will come, too.

 

 

 

 

 

April 1, 2021

 

It's time again for the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest. My 150 word entry is inspired from a gif of a fox seeing its reflection in the water. I found this gif at https://gify.com. I hope you enjoy my story. If you'd like to leave a comment, you can send me a tweet. My twitter handle is @dmddeb. You can also email me at ddaugherty329@gmail.com. Thanks for stopping by.

 

 

 

FOX’S FOLLY

By Debra Daugherty

 

On a beautiful spring morning, Fox scampered to the river hoping to catch a fish for breakfast.

A tree limb stretched across the water. “I’ll wait on that limb. When a fish swims past, I will pounce.”

Fox balanced himself on the limb and glanced down. “There’s a fox in the water!”

But Fox only saw his reflection.

Fox snarled. “He thinks he will grab the fish before me.”

Fox crouched and stared at the faux fox. “I can’t let him steal my breakfast.”

A rainbow trout angled down the stream. As it neared the limb, Fox sprang into the water. The splash scared the fish away.

Fox scrambled out of the river and shook himself dry. “That other fox caught my fish, but he is gone now.”

Fox darted back on the tree limb and glanced down at the stream. “Oh no! He’s back!”

And Fox’s folly began again.

 

 

 

March 2, 2021

 

Today I entered Vivian Kirkfield's 50 Precious Words Contest. The goal is to write a story using only 50 words or less. Here is my 50 word entry:

 

RAIN

by Debra Daugherty

 

“The rain frightens me,” said Duck.

“Rain makes puddles,” said Hen.

“Rain sounds loud and scary.”

Splash!

“Make it stop!” shrieked Duck.

“Without the rain, there’d be no flowers or rainbows.”

“No puddles? No flowers or rainbows?” asked Duck.

“Yes,” said Hen.

“Rain brings wonderful gifts. I’m not afraid anymore.”

 

 

 

 

February 12, 2021

 

Welcome to my blog page! Susanna Leonard Hill's Valentine Contest is here. Rules, write a Valentine story 214 words or less, about someone being brave. Below is my entry, with 205 words. I hope you enjoy it. Any comments can be addressed to me at ddaugherty329@gmail.com or on twitter @dmddeb

 

I Woof You

by Debra Daugherty

 

While her teacher read to the class, Amelia glanced over at Oliver and sighed. He’s cute. I hope he gives me a valentine at the party tomorrow.

That night, Amelia addressed her valentine cards. She chose a special card for Oliver. It pictured a dog with the caption ‘I Woof You’.

The next day, Amelia slipped her valentines into her classmates’ mailboxes. She squirmed as she watched Oliver open her card. His reaction was not what she expected. He burst into tears.

He hates my valentine, but why?

Amelia handed her heart-shaped cookie to Oliver. “I’m sorry you didn’t like my card.”

“Huh? Oh, the dog one was from you?”

Amelia’s eyes flickered. “Yes, I thought you knew.”

“I don’t dislike it. My dog died last week. The dog on the card reminded me of him.”

“Oh, so that is why you cried?”

“You saw?” A huge frown covered Oliver’s face. “You must think I’m a big baby.”

“No, not a baby, brave. You’re not afraid to show your feelings.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I am brave.” He gave her half the cookie. “Thanks for the card. I woof you, too.”

Amelia wanted to shout and turn cartwheels, but took a bite of her cookie instead.