Blogfest | JulieHedlund.com

Beauty of a Woman Blogfest

09. February 2012 · 69 comments

When I was 20, I was thinner than I am now. My body was leaner and tighter. My eyes were perhaps a bit brighter, my hair a little blonder.

But I am more beautiful at 40 than I was at 20. How can this be so?

At 20, I had no idea what I wanted to do or be in my life. At 40, I have finally not only found my path, I am walking on it.
At 20, I was self-conscious and plagued by self-doubt. At 40, I am comfortable in my own skin and happy with who and what I am.
At 20, I stuffed my body into multiple layers of baggy clothes because I thought I was too heavy. At 40, I do not hide my body in oversized clothes, but wear things that accentuate its strengths – curves and all!
At 20, I couldn’t run a mile. At 40, I can run 10.
At 20, I thought my body was weak. At 40, I know it’s power, for I have borne two children (one without benefit of drugs!), fattened them from my breasts, and have gone on to run a half marathon, take up yoga, ski better than I ever have, hike, gallop a horse, and so on. And I can STILL do the splits!
At 20, I concerned myself with what others thought of me. At 40, I concern myself with what I think of me.
At 20, I saw things in black and white. At 40, I see things in a thousand shades of gray.

I do not mean to criticize my 20 year-old self. She did the best she could with what she had at the time. She had her strengths and her moments of greatness. But I now know that beauty is rooted in confidence, and confidence is something I have in far greater abundance at 40 than I did at 20. True beauty does come from within and radiates out. Beauty that goes in the opposite direction is at best, fleeting and at worst, false.

Me at age 20

I participated in this blogfest to celebrate the many beautiful women I am blessed to call family and friends. It seems appropriate that in February, the month of love, we turn that love toward ourselves and rejoice in the beauty we are.

One of those beautiful friends is August McLaughlin, the creator of the blogfest. She recently shared one of the most incredible, touching and brave stories I’ve ever read, and it was that story which inspired me to take part in this blogfest. It’s called, Does Dirt Have Calories? Read it.

Also, be sure to go to August’s blog tomorrow to read many more inspiring stories of the Beauty of a Woman.

Me on my 40th birthday

Categories: Writing · Tags: Aging, August McLaughlin, Beauty, Beauty of a Woman Blogfest, Blogfest, Blogging, Julie Hedlund, Writer

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: Holiday Contest

20. December 2011 · 51 comments

Here is my contribution to author Susanna Hill’s Holiday Contest. The rules were simple. Write our own version of Clement C. Moore’s classic, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Go here to read all the other entries. They are great! Thanks to Susanna for hosting another fun challenge!

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the night,

We parents were wrapping with all of our might.

The stockings were stuffed but the presents were bare.

“I’ll be more organized next year… I swear!”

We prayed that the children would stay in their beds,

Snuggled in tight with the spreads on their heads.

While Daddy with his screwdriver and I with my tape,

Settled in to the task to make Christmas take shape.

When all of a sudden the dog began barking.

The reflection of bows on the ceiling were sparkling!

I sprang from the couch and led him away –

Into his crate to await Christmas Day.

At last we were ready to load up the tree.

Poor Daddy endured sharp instructions from me.

First this one! Now that one! Put this one on top.

Be CAREFUL! It’s fragile! Be sure it won’t drop.

And then we collapsed, exhausted and frayed.

“Oh please let the kids sleep ‘til eight,” we both prayed.

One blink of an eye and we heard the kids cheer,

“Come look at the tree, ‘cause Santa’s been here!”

We groaned in our beds, our eyes red and puffy.

The kids both looked glowing, while we looked quite scruffy.

I brewed us some coffee and scorching hot tea,

Then readied myself for the festivity.

One blink of an eye and the presents were done.

The kids were quite eager to play and have fun.

But as they were cleaning up ribbon and wrapping,

I lay my head down and soon began napping.

As I slipped into dreams, I heard a soft voice

Remind me to savor the day and rejoice.

And here I exclaim as I blog through the night, Happy Holidays to all and to all a Good Night

Categories: Authors, Creativity, Holidays, Poetry, Rhyming, Writing · Tags: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Blogfest, Christmas, Holiday Contest, Holidays, Julie Hedlund, Poetry, Rhyming, Susanna Leonard Hill, Winter, Writer, Writing

Julie: An American Girl – Deja Vu Blogfest

16. December 2011 · 50 comments

If you blink on the Internet, you’ll miss a million blog posts that you wanted to read.

Okay, maybe that’s an extreme statistic, but many lonely blog posts go unread and unloved. Enter the Deja Vu blogfest, brainchild of bloggers Katie Mills, DL Hammons, Lydia Kang and Nicole Ducleroir. On December 16^th participants will re-post their favorite blog offering, or one that didn’t get a lot of exposure – maybe because it was early blogging days or a holiday – whatever. So I’m taking the opportunity to re-post one I wrote a little over a year ago for a contest in the Writer’s Platform-Building Crusade. After a week of serious blogging, I was in the mood for light. So here it is, for your reading (or re-reading) pleasure.

Julie: An American Girl

You may not know this about me, but they’ve created an American Girl doll and written six books based upon me and my life.* Yes, you read that correctly. The worst part is, I only discovered this a few days ago when I came across the boxed set of books and the doll in Costco. Imagine my shock! Here I was, innocently looking for the 60-count package of kartoffelpuffers when I saw myself looking back at me in doll form.

Don’t believe me? Consider the evidence. American Girl Julie grew up in the 70s. I grew up in the 70s. Julie’s parents got a divorce. My parents got a divorce (albeit not in the 70s, but still…). Julie has a pet rock. I had a pet rock. If that is not enough to convince you, let’s take a look at the photographic evidence. Here is a picture of the doll and a picture of me circa the mid-seventies. I rest my case.

The Doll

The Model

Okay, so AG Julie lives in San Francisco and I lived in Northern Michigan. Obviously the author (the fabulously talented Megan McDonald) had to change some of the details in order to avoid paying me my fair share of the significant proceeds of this series. Honestly, if I find out that AG Julie has a toy skeleton that glows in the dark after you hold it up to a light bulb, a Lite Brite, Weebles (they wobble, but they don’t fall down), and/or Shrinky Dinks, I might consider a lawsuit.

I just feel so violated… Lately, I’ve taken to walking down the street under an umbrella wearing sunglasses with plate-sized lenses just to avoid recognition. Now that they are filming the “Julie” story (out in 2012), I can’t get any peace. You’d think they would have at least given me a part in the movie – but no. Apparently I’m now too old for the title role. American Girl actually dares to put this series in the historical fiction category. First of all, it’s not fiction – it’s my life. Secondly, I am most definitely not old enough to be considered historical in any way, right? Right????

On that note, I’ve often told my mother that the name Julie is so seventies that by the time I get to be 80 years old, it will be the equivalent of Maude or Gertrude or Betty today. So for all of you fellow Julies out there, we need to stage a comeback for the name. They’ve done it with names like Olivia and Sophia, so why not Julie? Who’s got some pull with the Top 100 Baby Names Book publisher? Best get on it.

Otherwise, we’ll all soon be known as Julie: An American Old Lady.

*Some or all of this post may or may not be true…

This post was written as part of Rachael Harrie’s Writers’ Platform-Building Crusade. She is 100% to blame for the kartoffelpuffer reference.

Categories: Authors, Children's Books, Writing · Tags: American Girl, American Girl Dolls, Blogfest, Blogging, Children's Books, Deja Vu Blogfest, Julie Hedlund, Julie: An American Girl, Lite Brite, Megan McDonald, Pet Rocks, Shrinky Dinks, The Seventies, Weebles, Writer, Writer's Platform-Building Crusade

Thanksgiving Blogfest: My Entry

23. November 2011 · 24 comments

Watch the little video for a laugh

Susanna Hill is sponsoring a fun blog challenge with Thanksgiving theme. Write a story (or poem) in 250 words or less, beginning with the words, “”They were supposed to go to Grandma’s for Thanksgiving, but the blizzard came in fast…“ She allowed those writing in poetry to tweak the beginning a bit to make the meter more consistent. I did take her up on that, BUT I will have you know my entry is EXACTLY 250 words!! (However, please don’t check the meter with a fine-tooth comb, as I wrote this very quickly for fun).

They were set to go to Grandma’s
For their big Thanksgiving feast,
But the blizzard came in fast
Growling, howling like a beast –

Hurled itself around the house
Rattling windows, banging doors.
They laid a fire in the hearth
Against the blizzard’s wicked roars.

They couldn’t roast a turkey.
Electricity went out.
They ate tuna for their meat,
For their veggie – sauerkraut.

They wrapped themselves in blankets
Lit some candles, played some gin.
Dessert was pumpkin out of cans
With some cinnamon stirred in.

They started telling stories
Scary, funny, tried and true
Til the fire turned to embers
And the clock struck half past two.

They stoked the fire to blazing,
Snuggled close and rested heads.
That fire was so darned cozy
That they did not miss their beds.

They formed a sleeping circle
With the dog curled up inside.
Slept so soundly through the night,
They did not hear the storm subside.

They woke up the next morning
To a dazzling, blinding light.
Snow had piled up to the rafters,
And the world was frosted white.

They threw on coats and snowsuits
Raced out straight into the snow.
Threw some snowballs, built a snowman
Came back in with cheeks aglow.

They sat sipping some hot chocolate
When they heard the doorbell ring.
Behind the door was Grandma
With a giant turkey wing!

That Thanksgiving sure was different.
Many folks would call it lame.
But they made the most of family
And were thankful just the same.

The challenge is open through tomorrow (Thanksgiving Day), so join in and add your own entry at http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2011/11/oh-excitement-thanksgiving-contest.html.

Categories: Authors, Holidays, Thanksgiving, Writing · Tags: Blogfest, Julie Hedlund, Poetry, Rhyming, Susanna Leonard, Thanksgiving, Writer, Writing

Marla and Me

01. April 2011 · 4 comments

Quick update: I was not one of the three finalists in Brenda Drake‘s Show Me the Voice Blogfest, but I am thrilled to have been a semi-finalist. I had a great time participating. You should go read the finalists’ entries, as they are fantastic.

Meanwhile, this is a post I meant to write a while ago, but it fell by the wayside.

This really is Marla and Me

One of the highlights of attending the Big Sur Children’s Writers workshop last December was that I got to participate in a critique group with none other than Marla Frazee. I jotted down this poem shortly thereafter, and figured I would debut it on the blog today in honor of the start of National Poetry Month. It also makes sense as an April Fool’s Day post because it exaggerates the truth just a tad… Maybe you’ll recognize the liberties in the lines. Bonus points if you can name the titles of Marla’s works in the poem.

Marla and Me

Here is a picture of Marla and me
After swapping fantabulous stories.
Equally awed by the other’s raw talent,
Predicting untold future glories.

Because that’s the way it is
With Marla and Me.

All the World is a mighty fine place
When Marla is writing her books.
As such a star team, when we’re deep into craft,
People oft give us envious looks.

Because that’s the way it is
With Marla and me.

She has a keen eye for finding the flaws
That obscure a manuscript’s brilliance.
Just polish and shine, lacquer each line.
Then add a strong dose of resilience.

Because Marla’s the Boss, Baby!

Categories: Authors, Picture Books, Poetry · Tags: April Fool's Day, Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop, Blogfest, Marla Frazee, National Poetry Month, Picture Books, Poetry, Show Me the Voice Blogfest

Gratitude Sunday 43

27. March 2011 · 14 comments

Another week, another Gratitude Sunday…

Quotes on Gratitude

“Don’t waste yourself in rejection, nor bark against the bad, but chant the beauty of the good.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” – Abraham Lincoln

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” — Laura Ingalls Wilder

Gratitude List for the week ending March 26

Making it to the semi-finals of Brenda Drake’s Show Me the Voice Blogfest. Here is a picture of my celebratory cork.
Enjoying Spring Break skiing – last week of the season for us.
Warm, sunny days on the slopes
The time to READ!
Taking the kids to see the movie Rango.
Kids, dog and father reunited after he was gone for a four-day business trip
Family game night
Stella, the Golden Retriever puppy we met at the vet’s office here in Keystone (don’t ask!)
The smell of the earth under melting snow
Homemade Chex Mix

What are you grateful for this week?

Categories: Dogs, Family, Gratitude Sunday, Movies, Skiing, Winter, Writing · Tags: Blogfest, Brenda Drake, Dogs, Family, Gratitude, Gratitude Sunday, Movies, Rango, Show Me the Voice Blogfest, Skiing, Winter, Writing

Semi-Finalist #17

24. March 2011 · 13 comments

FOODOO, my entry for Brenda Drake’s Show Me the Voice Blogfest, was selected as one of the 20 semi-finalists whose entries will be given to agent Natalie Fischer. She will now choose three who will win critiques from her. THANK YOU to everyone who provided comments and encouragement. I have been working on this manuscript for a long time, alternating between loving and loathing it and suffering many crises of confidence along the way. Getting positive feedback on the piece at this stage is a balm to my writerly soul.

Agent/author Mandy Hubbard wrote a great post last week about celebrating the small (and big) victories along the path of a writer. She keeps a large vase on her desk, and whenever she gets good news – a book deal, sells foreign rights, etc. – she pops open a bottle of champagne and writes what she is celebrating on the bottom of the cork. Then, when things aren’t going so well, she can go to the vase and remind herself of her accomplishments.

Since it is so easy to get discouraged in this business, I thought the “vase of corks” was a great idea. So I am going to christen my own vase this weekend by celebrating this little milestone. I am unpublished and unagented, so getting an agent to look at my work in any capacity is most definitely something to celebrate. Next time I want to shred FOODOO, I’ll pull out that cork…

Congratulations to everyone who entered and to the other semi-finalists. If you haven’t already done so, go read the entries. They are amazing! Thanks, too, to Brenda Drake for hosting such a fun contest.

P.S. I just love how I can Google “Mandy Hubbard” and “champagne cork” and find the post I was looking for. What DID people do in the days before the Internet???

Categories: Agents, Children's Books, Picture Books, Publishing, Rhyming, Works in Progress, Writing · Tags: Agents, Blogfest, Bradford Literary Agency, Children's Books, Mandy Hubbard, Natalie Fischer, Picture Books, Publishing, Show Me the Voice Blogfest, WIP, Writing

Final Entry for Blogfest

22. March 2011 · 4 comments

Thanks to everyone who commented on my original entry for the Show Me the Voice Blogfest. This is the revised version (of the first 250 words) that I submitted:

Title: Foodoo

Genre: Picture Book Fiction

Ginny McMaudy loved all kinds of thrills,
Like riding her bike over towering hills,
Smacking a cannonball into the pool,
Swashbuckling swords in a pirate ship duel.

Turning a cartwheel with balance and grace.
Fooling the pitcher and stealing third base.
But one thrill that Ginny still wanted to try?
An amusement park ride with a track to the sky.

Brian rode last year while she circled ‘round
On kiddie rides barely four feet off the ground.
This year she knew she would conquer that ‘coaster.
This year her brother would not get to roast her.

She raced Brian down to the Beck’s County Fair,
And waited in line for the ‘coaster called DARE.
Brian said, “Shorty, you won’t get to ride.”
“Just watch me,” said Ginny, and shoved him aside.

Ginny flushed red when she got turned away.
Worse, she watched Brian ride ten times that day.
Denied her first ride… what a whale of a bummer.
She grumbled, but vowed to grow tall by next summer.

“I might need to try an enchantment or two,
Or whip up a potion of TALLESTNESS brew…”
Ginny tried every known type of elixir.
Not even one of them managed to fix her.

She chanted a growth spell while waving her arms.
She dug a deep hole and buried six charms.
She danced round in circles; her head got all buzzy.
She read books on tallness; Her eyeballs went fuzzy.

One book advised, “To grow tall like Paul Bunyan,
Try bathing in fruit juice or suck on an onion…

I’ll find out on Thursday if I’m one of the 20 finalists who will get a chance to win a critique with Natalie Fischer. Good luck to everyone who participated. I had a great time reading the entries – lots of talent out there! Thanks again for your help and support!

Categories: Agents, Children's Books, Picture Books, Rhyming, Writing · Tags: Agents, Blogfest, Bradford Literary Agency, Critiques, Natalie Fischer, Publishing, Show Me the Voice Blogfest, WIP, Writing

Show Me the Voice Blogfest

20. March 2011 · 14 comments

Hi everyone,

No Gratitude Sunday post today because I am participating in Brenda Drake‘s Show Me the Voice Blogfest. (btw, Happy Birthday Brenda!) Here’s how it works: Participants post the first 250 words of a completed mss. Blog followers and other participants can provide critiques (keeping them helpful and focused on voice) in the comments. On March 22, we will incorporate any changes from the critiques and email the final 250 words to Brenda. A panel of peer judges will choose the best 20, and will then forward them to agent Natalie Fischer, of Bradford Literary Agency, who is always on the lookout for writing with great voice. Natalie will then choose three winners, who will win critiques of their mss or queries.

Here is my entry. For full disclosure, I must tell you that I am both under the weather and on a spring break ski trip with my kids. Therefore, I may not get to provide as many reciprocal critiques as I otherwise would. But I promise to do my best. Thanks in advance to anyone who takes a crack at this!

Name: Julie Hedlund

Title: FOODOO

Genre: Picture Book Fiction

Ginny McMaudy loved all kinds of thrills,
Like riding her bike over towering hills,
Smacking a cannonball into the pool,
Swashbuckling swords in a pirate ship duel.

Turning a cartwheel with balance and grace.
Fooling the pitcher and stealing third base.
Just one kid matched Ginny for courage and pluck –
Her brother, advantaged by height and good luck.

Ginny thought, I can do anything Brian can do.
But deep down inside she knew this wasn’t true.
Because one thrill he’d had that she wanted to try?
An amusement park ride with a track to the sky.

So she raced Brian down to the Beck’s County Fair,
And waited in line for a ‘coaster called DARE.
Brian said, “Shorty, you won’t get to ride.”
“Just watch me,” said Ginny, and shoved him aside.

Ginny was crushed when she got turned away.
Worse, she watched Brian ride ten times that day.
Denied her first ride… what a whale of a bummer.
She grumbled, but vowed to grow tall by next summer.

“I might need to try an enchantment or two,
Or whip up a potion of TALLESTNESS brew…”
Ginny tried every known type of elixir.
Not even one of them managed to fix her.

She chanted a growth spell while waving her arms.
She dug a deep hole and buried six charms.
She danced round in circles; her head got all buzzy.
She read books about tallness; Her eyeballs went fuzzy.

One book advised, “To grow tall like Paul Bunyan,
Try bathing in fruit juice or suck on an onion…

So, lay it on me. What do you think?

Categories: Agents, Children's Books, Picture Books, Publishing, Queries, Rhyming, Writing · Tags: Agents, Blogfest, Bradford Literary Agency, Brenda Drake, Children's Books, Critiques, Natalie Fischer, Picture Books, Publishing, Show Me the Voice Blogfest, Voice, WIP, Writing

My Favorite Picture Book

10. March 2011 · 25 comments

One of my critique partners, Megan Bickel, is hosting the “My Favorite Picture Book” blogfest today. When I signed up, I worried that choosing only one would be an impossible task, so I was surprised to find that the choice came quickly to mind. Drumroll please…

My favorite picture book is Eloise, by Kay Thompson. I think this choice surprised even me, given my love of Dr. Seuss and all things rhyming, but when I thought back on books that impacted me as a child, I had to go with Eloise. For one thing, it was one of the few books I actually owned. For another, the story and the pictures are so rich, I could spend hours poring over this book. I grew up in a small town in Northern Michigan. At the time I was reading Eloise, I had never even stayed in a hotel, much less lived in one. So the book was probably my first exposure to a way of life completely different from my own (never mind that it was different from almost everyone else’s too). Today, my love of Eloise is only magnified by the knowledge that this book, if submitted today, would probably not be published. I give both cultural and writerly reasons below, but first, let’s celebrate Eloise, the girl.

Why Eloise is awesome

She is whip smart and self-reliant
She’s her own person and unapologetic about it
She has a sense of wonder about every small thing around her
She has a wild imagination and loves to pretend
She is cunning
She refuses to get bored. Why would you get bored when you can comb your hair with a fork, wear your arm in a sling or put a rubber band on the end of your nose?
She’s a real kid. Despite her obvious wealth and unconventional lifestyle, every child from every background can relate to her. My favorite scene in the book is when she copies everything her tutor says and does until he is driven to insanity. Why do all kids do this?? My son is in this phase right now, and my daughter went through it too. I know I tormented my own mother likewise. I suspect that two millenia from now, somewhere in the world a parent and child will be having this conversation: “Time for dinner.” “Time for dinner.” “Please don’t do that.” “Please don’t do that.” “I mean it.” “I mean it.” “That’s not funny.” “That’s not funny.” And on and on til the end of time…
She is mischievous but also loving and lovable

Why Eloise couldn’t get published today: Cultural Reasons

My GAWD, the grown-ups smoke, drink and gamble
A six year-old runs around a hotel without any adult supervision
Absentee parents
Lord, but they say Lord a lot in this book
Little girl commits vandalism in a public space
Doesn’t anyone discipline this girl?

Why Eloise couldn’t get published today: Writerly Reasons

Opening lines = “I am Eloise. I am six.” Probably wouldn’t fly today.
Holy word count Batman! At 3000+ words, it probably wouldn’t get past the query stage
Tri-color pencil drawings. While they are so detailed and so gorgeous, they probably wouldn’t be flashy enough for today’s market.

So I’m glad it got published when it did, so that generations of children can come to know Eloise – a true original.

So, what is YOUR favorite picture book? Do you agree or disagree that Eloise probably wouldn’t get published today?

Categories: Authors, Childhood, Children's Books, Picture Books · Tags: Blogfest, Children's Books, Eloise, My favorite picture book, Picture Books