PitchWars 2017

I am entering PitchWars for the second year.  Hopefully, I'm going to change the old adage "third time's a charm" to "second time's a charm".  That's my goal!

I write middle grade mostly.  However, I do have a picture book coming out this fall by an Indie publisher about the Oklahoma City Survivor Tree.

But, as I said, I write mostly middle grade...because I spend my days with middle graders.  I will soon be starting my....drumroll...36th year of teaching!  I taught 2nd and 3rd, and was happy.  But, when I landed in 4th, I found my sweet spot.  I love those little buggers.

I am entering a contemporary fiction set in coastal Mississippi.




Here's a link to my Pinterest aesthetic board:

https://www.pinterest.com/gaye_sanders/hurricane-harper/



Making a list of my favorite books is pretty hard, because I read incessantly, and my favorite book is often the one I just finished.  But, here is a good sampling of what I like:




Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
My Diary From the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodson
Harry Potter - all of them!  But, especially Order of the Phoenix
Anne of Green Gables

Okay, I could go on and on, but I'll make myself stop!

Random facts about me:
I love to travel.  Anywhere.
Mexican food any day of the week is fine with me.
Coffee, yes!
I'm an eclectic person.  Meaning, I love books and more books.  I love the solitary world of writing and reading.  But, I love my sports, too!  Give me a noisy, boisterous crowd cheering for OKC Thunder or OSU Cowboys, and I'm totally happy.  Then I go home to my book and I am happy there too!
My very favorite sporting event is watching my kiddo coach youth soccer.  Nothing better.
I love live theater.  Musicals, dramas, comedy, you name it!

Favorite binging on TV:
Gilmore Girls, Friends, Parenthood, Allie McBeal, Friday Night Lights, Downton Abbey, Parks and Recreation, The Office, and Mary Tyler Moore.

So, to all of my fellow PitchWars hopefuls, good luck!  No matter what, we've got each other.  And, just remember,
You're Gonna Make it After All!