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Picture Book Series Potential?

4/26/2019

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       When I wrote my first Picture Book, "Is This Cowboy Food?" I had no aspirations for writing an entire storybook series. I just thought that the experiences our family shared with the silly antics of our second son were pretty funny and would certainly be remembered and enjoyed by the family. Then when I gave copies out as Christmas gifts to our kids and grandkids, my oldest son stated matter-of-factly, "Mom, there are seven of us.  We each expect our own storybook."  I guess that was a sort of vote of confidence -- 1. that he thought I could do it and 2. that he thought that each of his siblings actually had a funny, entertaining story to tell. (Only four to go!)
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      I learned a lot in producing "Is This Cowboy Food?" the first time.  I searched out inspiration and became acquainted with many styles of drawing, coloring, layouts, positive and negative space on the page, how to use surprise elements, create expressive faces, and the list goes on.  My drawings were not as polished as I wanted, but they were as good as I knew how to do at the time.  I knew a little about coloring in pencils and painting with watercolor and markers, but my skill sure need to be honed.  As for the writing style...well, I didn't have one.

       So, now after writing and illustrating two other books, I decided to revisit the first story.  Now I know my writing style --- do it in rhyme and try to make people chuckle.  Because I learned that I needed to focus this story to about a 5 to 6 year old demographic (plus the adults who might be the readers and any other listening ears), I made the main character sort of a non-distinct age of 5-ish -- even though our real little son was a "not yet four" through age five year old kid.  From the trial-runs I have had with willing reviewers, this story should appeal to the families of 5-6 year olds.  After all, almost every family has that one kid who fixates on something FOR A LONG LONG TIME!!!
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The Show Goes On...and thank goodness for help from family!

4/24/2019

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I am happy to report that the Summer Theater Camp Compromise Schedule is GO for launch.  The families were thrilled that we were able to skillfully tip-toe around family vacations, Young Women's Camp, Scout High Adventure trips, the 5th Grade Science Camp, a Youth Temple Trip, and Swim Team meets. But in order to enroll the older girls we needed, we also included some younger siblings.  Fortunately, this show can absorb many participants.  Our final enrollment count is 49 students ages almost 5 to 13 years old.
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My son is busy making some props and set pieces for me.  I have collected most of the pieces I need to do this show from doing it several times over the years, but each stage presents its own challenges.  I need "ancient" columns, a few low wooden stools, and a "rock" for the shepherd boy to sit on.  My son is donating his woodworking skills to the project -- but he is only available this week.  Gotta use the help while I can get it.
My daughter will be helping me with scenic painting as well as collecting the free cardboard flats we will need to create the "distant" mountains in the background.  She will also paint a whitewashed rock cottage with a red tiled roof.  Can't decide if we will even bother to paint the columns with carved details.  It will remain to be seen if we have enough time for detail work.  
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Another daughter promised to come down for a few rehearsals to teach the most important choreography to the oldest girls.  She doesn't have time to help us polish the dancing, but I will take all the help I can get.  It will be fun to see her recreate some of the dancing she did when she premiered this show back when she was 14.

I am so grateful we were able to avoid disappointing Summer Theater Camp participants this year.  And I am especially grateful for the help from my wonderful family!

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Compromise Schedule

4/17/2019

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So, this summer's Theater Camp pre-registrations started off very well.  I had 35 kids sign up within the first couple of weeks.  Then, I started noticing that no older girls (10-12+) had signed up.  NONE.  "Never Cry Wolf" has some pretty critical parts for that older girl group.

​       That made me start inquiring to find out why the girls who usually signed up were not registering.  Come to find out, our Stake Young Women's Camp was one of those weeks.  I thought I had remembered that YW Camp was always the 2nd week of June.  But this year, it is the first week of June.  

       Then, I drew up what I thought was a schedule that should work for most of those families.  I added a third week of camp and divided up the students into two divisions.  The Older kids would come the first week, the Younger kids would come the second week, and the Everybody would come the third week.  The Performance would be on Saturday of the third week.

       Unfortunately, that schedule caused more problems for the people who had already signed up.  Many families had vacations, or Youth Activity trips, or other situations that would affect their children's participation.  So, again, I did some investigating.  I used this information to develop yet another Camp Schedule.

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  Oh, I hope that this NEW COMPROMISE SCHEDULE works out.  It is all I can think of to do.  I need those older students!

       So we are scheduling the Older students from May 28-June1 and June 3 to come to Camp.  Then the Younger students from June 1, and June 3-7.  Then EVERYONE from June 8, and June 10-12.  Sometimes the days overlap, and sometimes the groups meet separately.  This might be very good for all of us because I could work more individually with each age group.

     The Performance would then be on Wednesday June 12 at 6:00 pm.  Hopefully this will fit the schedules of the largest amount of families that have already signed up.  Wish us luck!

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Flyer for 2019 Camp Production of Never Cry Wolf

4/1/2019

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Just love my daughter Katelyn's artwork!
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    Author

    My name is Betsy Bailey.  I have sung, written and taught music all of my life.  I enjoy writing and directing Children's Theater shows.  This blog will be directed to topics on creating the magic of Children's Theater.  I would love to hear your comments!

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