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Lorraine McCown

@mcclowny.bsky.social

1K followers 1.1K following 1.9K posts

Engineer➡️Stay @ home Mom➡️HS physics teacher➡️And now... Writing picture books for ages 0 to 110! #KidLit #PB #StoryStorm #PBParty #PBPitch #PictureBooks

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Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 3d

DId they share their take on formulaic pitches? #kidLitChat

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 3d

Good to know.

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 4d

I was thinking wild was 1 or 2 (why-yuled). Even more words surface when trying to conform to 5-7-5 Haikus. Language is fun, especially when considering the flow of read aloud PBs. But, with so much freedom in the PB lane, you could actually use “spark-uh-lee” in your text.

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 4d

I've encountered rhythm stumbles for words like wild and sparkly, by critique members from different parts of the US. Kinda fun to discover these differences in syllable counts. #KidLit

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

We missed you!

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

Ha. I enjoyed it as a kid and my kids loved it so I bought multiple copies of so my kids will have it for their kids. #KidLitChat

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

I also have her Once a Mouse that I liked. #KidLitChat

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

Don’t forget about the upcoming contest - The Fall Writing Frenzy kidlit and YA writing contest hosted by author Lydia Lukidis and agent/author Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez. #KidLitChat

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Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

There was just the right amount of tension. Would he find his way back home? Could he get his family to recognize him? And then he hides the scrub brush at the end to preserve a taste of rebel. #KidLitChat

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

My kids also enjoyed Harry the Dirty Dog. #KidLitChat

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Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

My granddaughters love Kitten’s First Full Moon by Henkes. #KidLitChat

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Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

Yes - it’s somewhere in the chat tonight. Hard to keep track of all the threads. #KidLitChat

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

Charge of the Light Brigade - wow. I had forgotten that one. #KidLitChat

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

Oh my Gosh. That is my father in law’s favorite #KidLitChat

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

We are similarly built. I’m trying not to research this because I know how long I’ll be ‘in it’. That said, we need more clues. #KidLitChat

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Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

Unfortunately, there was a pitchfork in the haystack 😱 #KidLitChat

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Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

My fourth grade teacher read The Gift of the Magi and she cried while reading it. It’s probably why I like it so much.
#KidLitChat

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

I really wanted that box that lost items appeared in. #KidLitChat

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Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

My kids love the Nightgown of the Sullen Moon. The art is so beautiful. #KidLitChat

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Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 10d

I was blessed to be brought to the library every week as a child. I loved how my parents did the bear and mouse voices in this one. My inspiration comes more from daily life than other books, but I analyze many PBs each week for the craft. #KidLitChat

How Joe the Bear and Sam the Mouse Got Together
Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
, Bernice Myers
(Illustrator)

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 14d

While I don’t personally know these authors, they are very familiar to me and I have probably interacted with a couple of them a time or two on SM. When your post gave me happiness, it struck me how wonderful the sense of community is in #KidLit land.
Congrats to all, as you enjoy your successes!

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 17d

Gotcha.

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 17d

I’m kind of glad I wasn’t writing when my kids were young. Some of our best conversations were in car rider line. #KidLitChat

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Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 17d

And you have to verify all of your insurance gobbledygoop before you even start selecting your physicians.

Lorraine McCown @mcclowny.bsky.social · 17d

Creek. Jeez. #KidLitChat