It still feels like summer! I have been informed by the weather man that we will be feeling the coolness of fall by the weekend Yea!! My son is so excited for Halloween this year. He want's to be a vampire and I couldn't be happier about that. He doesn't even know who Edward Cullen is but soon he will be dressed up as a mini Edward! I will have a new newsletter posted on my website by the end of next week. So keep your eyes open. =0) As far as writing goes I have promised myself that I will finish my novel by the end of November! At that point I am thinking I will spend the rest of this year and the begining of next year writing a few more children's books. As always, I will keep you updated!

Well here we are more than half way through September! Dalton started first grade and I don't know how I got so lucky to have a kid that loves school! I have been working on my novel and have more than 200 pages now. The last few weeks my writing has been less but after I get back from Las Vegas this weekend I plan on picking up the pace again. I am re-reviewing a few of my childrens books and working some re-writes. Trying to stretch my creativity by taking the stories and writing them in a completely different way. I'll have to let you know how that goes. I love this time of year as the weather cools down and the holidays approach. So much fun ahead and I look forward to fun times ahead! I hope all of my dear friends and family are wonderful!

I just had a shocking reality check! There is only one day left of July in 2008! I have recommitted to posting my updates and decided to write about a new book that I am writing. It is not a children's book this time. It is a novel. I have almost 100 pages written and I am getting more and more excited about it all the time. Designing Kylie is a novel about a small town Mormon who finds herself at a top raked design school in New York City. Of course there is romance, conflict, sorrow and  total elation. Just a few of the emotions that the book will run through. When it is finished I will be looking for a couple of guinea pigs to read it and review it for me so if you are a reader let me know. =0)  I hope you all enjoy your last day of July!

Laura

I have decided that summer is a crazy time! There are so many things going on and I have been away from my writing for way too long because of the business of life! Dalton and I took a trip with my family to our family cabin last week and it was beautiful! The weather was so nice and the wild flowers were blooming. Now that August is so quickly approaching I am getting things ready for Dalton to return to school and me to get out of the clouds and back to reality! Elisabeth Bell has been working on a trademark drawing for me and I can't wait to show all of my devout readers her fabulous work! (I say it like there are so many of you!!) I appreciate all of my friends and family and their encouragement and belief in my dreams!

Well, It has been a few weeks since I wrote an update. I will be completing a newsletter for June. May got away from me because of some personal issues but I am now getting back on track. I am working on two books right now. "The Fluffy Puffy Dragon" and "The Wibbaly Waddely Duck". I am still sending my finished books to various publishers and have now received five rejection letters. =0) The great thing is that I know there will come a day when I will receive an acceptance letter. I hope you are all wonderful and ready for summer!

Well this week I sent off my new book "Granny Green and the Muddy Muddy Muddy day" I also sent "I want to be" to my second publisher choice as it is one of the two rejections I have received. Things have been quiet from the publisher this week. It makes me think they may actually be considering one of my books! I'm not really getting my hopes up yet but it would be so fabulous if they accepted one! I am working on "Granny Green and the Hen-rendous Day." Granny Green is becoming one of my favorites! She is quite a character! I will be working on My May newsletter in the hopes of getting it out sometime next week so keep your eyes open for new updates coming shortly. To all of you who read my updates, have a fabulous day!!

I have heard a million stories about authors that had hundreds of rejection letters before finally finding that right book and fitting it with the right publisher. I am going to keep a tally of the rejection letters that I receive on my monthly newsletter to give everyone an idea of exactly what this journey is like. I did receive a letter from the publisher for one of my books. (I have now submitted 4) That letter said thank you...we can see that you worked very hard on this project...we are unable to work with you on this project at this time... I will be sending out my newsletter this week so you will see my strike one! The great news is I have already identified three other publishers that look at my type of children's books so I will be sending "Do You Hear I Love You?" out again shortly. Other than that my week has been pretty normal. =0) Work, Work, Work, family here...writing there...family again. Life is busy and wonderful!

Today is an exciting day for me! I got a postcard (of all things) from the publisher. I am sure it is just common practice for them to send these to everyone that submits manuscripts but to me it is a step ahead of worst case scenario. "What is worst case scenario?", you ask. Well my nightmares have gone something like this...Returned manuscript with a letter that simply states "Ms. Drew, you can't write. Please do not send us any more manuscripts." or simply receiving the manuscript back with a big red "DENIED" stamped on it. Like I said, nightmare! On to the good news, the postcard says that my manuscript is being reviewed and I will hear back in eight to ten weeks. It is dated April 1st (is this an April fools joke?) so I will hear something by mid June. This is going to be the longest ten weeks of my life! I hope all of you out there are smiling and successful!

What a week! Between school, work, work, work, and family life, it has been so busy! I have not gotten word back from the publisher yet but I don't expect any for a few more weeks. I did complete another book called "My Big Sis." I am submitting it to the publisher today. Lately I have been doing this rhyming thing and it is really fun! My last two books have had a little rhyme to them. It makes the writing a little more challenging. I have also been working on the custom books project. I have one story almost complete and I have been working with the illustrator and brainstorming best scenarios for the project. Stay tuned...My next newsletter will be coming out in two weeks and is packed with fun stuff so check back soon at www.lauraannedrew.com!

I have finally finished my website! It took me a little while to get it set up and it will change quite a bit over time I am sure, but I am so excited to have it up and running! This week has been busy as ever finishing all of the final details for one of my books that I am attempting to publish. This year has just flown by! I can't believe March is half over! Come take a look at my new website and let me know what you think! www.lauraannedrew.com Keep smiling and remember that "We chose who we are and what we will become."