I’m going to take a break from the blog this month.
But I have a really good reason! I have been awarded a month-long Creative Access Fellowship to complete my WIP, a middle grade novel with the working title A Trivial Murder.
I’m pretty excited about it.
So! I’ll be spending the month at Ragdale House, located in warm, sunny Lake Forest, Illinois! Current temperature: 15 degrees. (I probably could’ve planned the timing of my visit a little better.)
Here are the other Ragdale guests who are similarly not so great at timing their residency visits. They seem nice.
Though I’ll be focused on my manuscript, I won’t be completely absent from social media. Later this month, I’ll make an appearance as a guest blogger at Tara Lazar’s Storystorm.
And I’ll pop over to my Facebook page from time to time. Especially if somebody shares a video of cute widdle rodents and/or cute widdle goats. I can’t be slaving over my WIP 24/7, after all.
As for January’s Debatables, the lovely and talented Jilanne Hoffmann has agreed to serve as tribute, a la The Hunger Games. Do you know Jilanne? Because you should. In fact, it would behoove you to subscribe to her wonderful blog.
And that’s it! If my soon-to-be frostbitten fingers don’t fall off, I’ll be typing new blog posts in February.
Wish me luck!
Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow! 
Seriously??? That’s like almost my neighbor’s friend’s uncle’s next door psycho’s back yard!! Seriously!!!!
I’ll be sure to say hi.
I’ll wave when I drive by
I’ll wave right back at’cha!
You wouldn’t want coffee?
Why, yes! Yes, I would.
If you are THAT close to me, I may just drive down thataway…..
That sounds like a plan to me!
Seriously. I may have the rest of the books by then and they’ll need some cat scratchin’…..
I wish you warmth. Luck and talent you take with you. Seriously, Mike, you chose January when summer fellowships were available?
I can’t run off when my boy is home for the summer!
A responsible writer—this is admirable. The info on the fellowship intrigues me. I look forward to reading your “How I Spent My January” report.
I suspect my essay will include the sentence “I was cold.”
Room service provide cocoa?
Room service? Where do ya think I’m staying, the Hilton?
What kind of writer retreat doesn’t provide amenities?
WHAT!? This is just fabulous news. I can’t wait to hear about the experience. Maybe you bought yourself a pair of those types of gloves for cold weather where the fingers are allowed out of the wool? We will miss your blogging charms but you have a great reason to be away for a month.
My suitcase is about 90 percent fleece.
And, yes, upon my return I shall blog a full report.
How exciting for you! Who needs luck when you have your talent?? Enjoy the journey. Can’t wait to hear about your success.
Oh, God, I’d be nowhere without luck!
And thanks for the kind words, my friend!
Ragdale house sounds and looks like the perfect place to bring out your creative genius to the max. It really does look like a storybook large scale writers cottage. You are still a 10 hour drive from Toronto. I don’t think I will be getting my books signed. Enjoy the experience!
Yeah, I’m gonna have to get a Canadian fellowship someday. The only problem with that plan is that Canadian Arts organizations do not give fellowships to anyone except Canadian artists. Harrumph!
We’ll have to look into adopting you.
I’ll get the adoption forms ready in case the 2020 election goes south.
And I’m Canadian in spirit.
Perhaps your brother-in-law and I can trade citizenships?
That wouldn’t help. My Brother-In-Law is 100% Yankee Doodle Dandy!
Congrats! And kick butt on that ms (a/k/a good luck!)
I shall kick the ms’s butt — or freeze trying.
So excited that A Trivial Murder is THAT much closer to being on bookshelves! Congrats on the residency Mike. Write on!
Well, no. It’s that much closer to being finished. Oh, so mAny of my finished works never get to the bookshelf stage.
But, geez, I hope you’re right!
Lookit you, with that yellow “Felllow” flag under your picture! May your time in Illinois be fruitful, exciting, and as warm as possible!
Yes, I’m a fellow! Woo!
And many thanks for your warm words, my friend.
A Trivial Murder?! I’m already intrigued! Congrats and good luck on your month of writing! See you on StoryStorm!
Thanks so much, Kath!
Tara just told me that my Storystorm post will be going up tomorrow. So keep an eye out!
GOOD LUCK! And enjoy your jaunt into midwest winter.
Thanks, Lauri! And I do believe I will enjoy it!
Good luck and congrats on the fellowship, Mike. Enjoy the refreshing Illinois weather. Bring gloves and a hat, and long underwear, and a sweather and wool socks. A don’t forget boots. Oh, and a scarf. Maybe a nose warmer and ear muffs. 😀 And last of all – hot cocoa.
A nose warmer is a bridge too far, D. Wallace. I’d rather lose my nose to the cold than my dignity!
Even one with a pom-pom on the tip?
Many, many congratulations! You sound thrilled, as you have every right to be! All you have to do is find a warm corner, and write, write, write!
Writing writing writing is the plan!
This is such a cool opportunity for you to really focus and write! So happy for you! Have fun with everyone you meet.
Thanks so much, Patricia!
Sounds like a great opportunity…good luck and good writing!
T’anks, Becky!
You’re welcome!
Awesome news! Can’t wait to read all about it! 😉
And I shall write all about it.
That’s so cool! I know you’ll have fun, and will be productive, because you’re just that kind of awesome. So, I’ll just wish you luck and warmth, safe travels and good times! 😀
I didn’t know I was THAT kind of awesome.
How awesome!
Cool retreat! Have a productive month. I got here from StoryStorm and am now a follower.
I agree about avoiding Illinois this time of year (as I write from Chicago).
Yay! Welcome to the blog! I’ll be writing more in Feb. Don’t be a stranger!
Good luck!
T’anks, Tref!
Happy New Year! Congratulations on your fellowship & stay warm.
Yes. Warmth is the goal.
Sounds awesome. Have a great time and get lots done.
I’ll sure try!
WOW! Cool!! and good luck! See ya when you get back!
Oh.. and btw, all of the books were loved and appreciated!! AND put away for safe keeping until they are old enough to read them on their own. But the parents LOVED them too! Cheers Mike! ❤
Hooray! Thanks for buying my books, you wonderful Texan gal, you!
Of course!! My pleasure… 😉 ❤
Mike, Congrats on this win! (I hope you’re staying warm considering the brutal stuff going on with the temps right now!) And a REALLY BIG CONGRATS on THIS!!! https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/79142-rights-report-week-of-january-28-2019.html 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 Now I’ll go post this on Facebook too. I REALLY wish you were on Twitter *sigh* 😉
Thanks, Donna!
And Twitter? Weeeeell, maybe someday, but not someday soon.