It has been months since I posted anything here.  'Bout time to set that straight!

I am working every available moment (in contrast with every unavailable moment) on my children's fantasy adventure book "The World BEYOND The Toy Box". It is taking on a thrilling life of its own as I am discovering so many new things about the plot, the characters, and the overarching theme of this story. I can't wait to share it with you all! But the time to do so might be a little farther off than I first thought. This writing experience is tough!

Because I am a  grandparent who has had many opportunities recently to watch children's movies with my grandchildren, I have learned so much about what separates the good flicks from the bad ones. My favorites lately are Sing, Moanna, A Bug's Life, The Secret Life of Pets, Little Foot, Toy Story 1,2&3. (I can't wait to see Toy Story 4!), and How To Train Your Dragon: Hidden World. I know some of these are older movies but they are classics!! The characters in these movies are tremendously diverse in creative ways and are extremely mesmerizing to me. Watch any of them again and I dare you not to smile in amazement!!

So say a little prayer for me that I will continue to be productive and that my story will rise to the level that I believe  it can. If it does, I hope that you will enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it!

Till then!

My book is underway! (Hurray! ...Even if I have to say so, myself!) I have actually begun to write it.

In the past two-plus years, I have accumulated almost 30 three-ring binders (some even 1 1/2" thick!) chock-full of story structure elements. And it has been quite a ride. It might even have the appearance to some people of overkill. But in my defense, as Jonathan Baldie, author of the new book The 24 Laws of Storytelling, recently wrote in an article titled Why a Lack of Planning is Killing Your Story:

"To the storyteller, story structure is really about spending time before you’ve even written the first page, on a clear route map for everything that your story’s going to cover. Successful authors spend more time plotting out character arcs, designing each arc, and purposefully tracking the rising tension in their stories, than they do on the actual writing of words."

And that's what I've been doing. Preparing.

As I noted in my last post, for the past month or two I've been spending time reading and listening to audiobooks. I'm doing so in an attempt to improve my writing ability so that I can be the best storyteller I am capable of being. And it has been rewarding.

For example, I have listened to The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman three times in the last month. Yes, three times. If you haven't read (or listened to) this book before, you MUST! Unbelievable. That's what I'm talking about.

I've also responded to a challenge called "Memento Mori"  by Jonathan Baldie.  And that challenge is to focus like a laser in 2019 on the things (relationships are already a given) for which I most want to be remembered if I were to unexpectedly die at the end of this year. I know it sounds morbid at first. But true-life proves it is always possible. At the top of my current list of things I want to accomplish in 2019, is the completion of the first book in my children's fantasy-adventure series. And so I write.

Be looking for a completed book by 2020. Memento Mori.

This is what Dr. Jean LeBlanc, principal of Nelson School in Niles, Illinois had to say about my recent series of assemblies at her school:
​"Ed Denecke captured and held the attention of students in grades K-6 by sharing his Dreaming Giant-sized Dreams theme through his story of getting his book published.  Emphasizing traits such as tenacity, asking for help, using feedback to improve his work and more, Ed showed how these traits served him well in fulfilling his dream of publishing his own book."

If you have any connection to an elementary school - whether through your own children or through some other means (friendship, business, or mere proximity) - please consider passing on my name to the administration. I promise you that I won't embarrass you by bringing a sub-par presentation!

​I am in the midst of more than a year-long research-and-preparation-project for my first chapter book (part of a four-part adventure series). I have another picture book that has already been presented to my publisher. It was enthusiastically received! Hopefully, soon it will be underway!  Because I am a new, unknown author being given a chance by a smaller publisher, the process that I am using to get published requires me to invest in a percentage of the cost of producing my books (My first book "What Happens at School When You're Not There?". easily ​made back my entire investment!). Now I would like to get my second picture book​, "The Nap Book", in print. If it is successful, as I believe it will be, then I will re-invest the profits into my adventure book series. Any help that you can give me in making contact with elementary schools (my target audience) will be greatly appreciated.  I can send inquisitive school administrators plenty of pertinent information to help them decide if I am a good fit for their 2017-2018 school year author visit.

​Thanks everyone!!