This✍️dream has taught me:
— Jamie is ✍︎ dream chasing (@WritingKidLit) December 12, 2024
🎢emotions happen more frequently than one can fathom
to normalize🦥vs🏎️
community🔦makes a difference no matter which stage or season
💫TY to each of you along this path pic.twitter.com/iTRyPiKjim
Category: Uncategorized
Passing the Torch #PBPowerHour
I’m A Literary Agent Mentee!
I’m A 2023 PB Rising Stars Mentee!
The moment I saw my name listed under mentor Stephen Briseño I was flooded with dreams-coming-true type emotion. If Grandpa Manuel were here he would say something like, “Way to go, Jamis Ray! Oh, Katella!” and ask if a news reporter would be showing up to take his picture. He sure would be proud to know the story inspired by his life “sung” to Stephen. One of the nicest, most generous kidlit authors, Stephen is a middle school English teacher who brings emotion-packed kidlit stories and needed representation to bookshelves. I’ll be over here soaking up all of this amazingness if you need me.
SPRING FLING KIDLIT 2023 CONTEST
Another fun #SpringFlingKidlit contest is here! Hosted by literary agent Kaitlyn Sanchez and author Ciara O’Neal. This adorable .gif by Eva Pils inspired my story about a hard-working, garden-loving cat who delivers the loveliest bounty to fellow felines each spring. Similar to a human I know: my Dad has a community garden plot and spends many hours cultivating to share with others.
Best of luck to each writer who entered and thank you for your time and effort, hosts and prize donors!
With less than 150 words and a .gif of choice, here’s my entry:
NO ORDINARY SPRING CAT
By: Jamie Rodarte
I’m not like any other cat.
Simply put, I’ve no time for that.
They loudly purr, purr, purr when pet.
I grunt and purr, purr, purr with sweat.
They stalk and pounce on moving strings.
I much prefer my garden things.
They snooze their days in warm sunrays.
I only nap with rain delays.
So, when it comes to spring’s big boom,
I take my time with all in bloom.
Waiting till they’re hug-sized round,
And pluck before they touch the ground.
Then…
Baskets, buckets, bushels of heart.
Carefully wheeled by garden cart.
Piled high, high, high in my truck’s flat.
More than enough for every cat.
“Some love for mew and mew and mew.”
Spring’s kindest gifts are shared…it’s true.