Farewell, Dear Blog

November 3, 2021November 3, 2021 ~ Josh Funk ~ 1 Comment

I started this blog 8 years, 7 months, and 14 days ago (that’s 3,151 days if you’re counting). Today, I’ve decided to officially stop updating this site (fwiw, I’ve only posted twice in the past three years, so this shouldn’t come as much of a shock). This will be my 152nd … and final blog post.

If you’d like to stay connected, here’s how you can find me now:

Looking back at these last 8+ years, it’s been pretty amazing.

I signed with a literary agent and sold 22 picture books, 15 of which are available now:

One of which is available for preorder:

Two of which you can mark “Want to Read” on goodreads right here,

And four more of which have yet to be announced (SHH! It’s a secret!)

I visited (and virtually visited) 794 schools, libraries, bookstores, conferences, and festivals.

I made a handful of book trailers

And got a little grayer (or is it greyer? or more gray? I should ask a writer).

Regarding the blog, my first post was Sunday’s Poetry Exchange.

Sunday’s Poetry Exchange

My most liked & shared post was How to Buy a Picture Book (without Buying a Picture Book).

How to Buy a Picture Book (without Buying a Picture Book)

And my most viewed post of all time was Don’t Write in Rhyme, which is ironic because more than half of my books are written in rhyme (I wonder if people who stumble across my site when searching for rhyming picture book advice realize this).

Tips for Writing Picture Books: Don’t Write in Rhyme

And that pretty much wraps it up. Thanks for hanging out. I’ll be seeing you around … everywhere but here.

Farewell.

Your pal,

Josh

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This blog is now officially defunked.

Writers’ Loft Holiday Bazaar at An Unlikely Story

November 16, 2015November 16, 2015 ~ Josh Funk ~ 4 Comments

As you may know, I am an active member of The Writers’ Loft, a local writing community in the Boston, MA suburb of Sherborn. This Saturday, November 21 from 1-4 pm, we will be holding our 2nd Annual Holiday Bazaar and Book Fair. But because the Loft has grown so much in the past year, we needed a bigger venue. So this year we’re partnering with Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney’s new bookstore, An Unlikely Story, in Plainville, MA and holding the bazaar in their amazing 2nd floor event space.

Writers-Loft-Holiday-Bazaar-2015-1[1]

The following authors (including me!) will all be on hand signing copies of their books all afternoon.

Sarah Brannen (Madame Martine, Madame Martine Breaks the Rules, Feathers: Not Just For Flying)
Greg Fishbone (Galaxy Games: The Challengers)
Josh Funk (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast)
Susan Goodman (How Do You Burp in Space?, See How They Run, The Truth About Poop And Pee)
Thea Iberall (The Swallow and the Nightingale)
Jane Kohuth (Anne Frank’s Chestnut Tree, Duck Sock Hop, Ducks Go Vroom)
Lisa Kramer (P.O.W.ER)
Michael G Lewis (The Great Pirate Christmas Battle)
Sharron Kahn Luttrell (Weekends with Daisy)
Ellen Mayer (A Fish to Feed, Red Socks)
Marika McCoola (Baba Yaga’s Assistant)
Susan Meyer (New Shoes, Black Radishes)
Ammi-Joan Paquette Princess Juniper of the Hourglass, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids, Nowhere Girl)
April Jones Prince (Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing, Dig In!, Who Was Frederick Douglass?)
Warren Ross (Teapots and Assorted Things)
Anna Staniszewski (The Dirt Diary, My Very UnFairy Tale Life, I’m With Cupid, Power Down, Little Robot)
Tara Sullivan (Golden Boy)
Jane Sutton (What’s Up With this Chicken?, Esther’s Hanukkah Disaster)
Laura Woollett (Big Top Burning)

So if you’ve been meaning to check out Jeff Kinney’s gorgeous book store, or want to see what The Writers’ Loft is all about, or feel like purchasing some great signed books as holiday presents, or just want to meet and hang out with some fun authors -> then stop by on Saturday and say hi.

The Writers’ Loft in Sherborn, Massachusetts is a retreat, a conference, and a writers’ room of requirement all rolled into one supportive community. Like a year-long writing conference, the Loft hosts classes and workshops. The Loft also hosts frequent panels and free craft chats with authors and illustrators. The Loft offers critiques from agents and editors, and hosts monthly write-ins, social gatherings, manuscript mixers, and book launches. It’s also home to critique groups and think tanks for writers and illustrators in all genres, for those who are traditionally published, self-published, and pre-published. And, like any good writing retreat, The Writers’ Loft always has a quiet space for you to write. The Writers’ Loft is a 501(c)3 organization, centrally located just West of Boston, but not far from the New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut borders with members from all over New England. For more information about their groups and upcoming events, please visit www.thewritersloft.org.

Two for You: Lofter Holiday Edition

1. The Great Pirate Christmas Battle written by Michael G. Lewis and illustrated by Stan Jaskiel

2. Esther’s Hanukkah Disaster written by Jane Sutton and illustrated by Andy Rowland

My PiBoIdMo Post: Do Your Worst

November 3, 2015November 3, 2015 ~ Josh Funk ~ 3 Comments

Quick note: My 2015 PiBoIdMo Post Josh Funk Dares You to Do Your Worst went live yesterday. I encourage everyone to check it out and if you register for PiBoIdMo and comment on the page, you’ll be eligible to win some Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast swag (see image below):

Registration for PiBoIdMo is now open (click here) but it’s only open for TWO MORE DAYS! So register now if you want to have a chance at winning any of the giveaways (literary agent consultations, books, swag, etc) throughout the month.

Two for You

1. Stone Giant written by Jane Sutcliffe and illustrated by John Shelley

Enthralling story of how Michaelangelo’s David came to be.

2. Hiding Dinosaurs written and illustrated by Dan Moynihan

Boy hatches dinosaur eggs. Hilarity ensues.

7th Annual Picture Book Idea Month Is Here!

October 27, 2015October 27, 2015 ~ Josh Funk ~ 4 Comments

Why is November 1st one of my all-time favorite days of the year?

No, it’s not my wife’s birthday! (or is it?)

November 1st is the start of Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month)! According to the FAQ (found here), “PiBoIdMo is a free November writing challenge for picture book writers and illustrators. The object is to jot down one picture book concept daily. By the end of the month you’ll have at least 30 bright & shiny new ideas! You can then refer to these ideas throughout the year to jumpstart your creativity and write new manuscripts.”

Registration for PiBoIdMo is now open (click here)! It’s free and it’s awesome. Every day throughout November a different author or illustrator will post on Tara’s blog in order to inspire and ignite your creativity. I posted last year (see here) and I’ll be posting this year again (on November 2nd!). Here’s the calendar for the entire month:

What a lineup, eh? And what a logo! PiBoIdMo founder and organizer Tara Lazar works tirelessly every fall to organize this event. And today happens to be the book birthday for her third picture book, Little Red Gliding Hood. So let’s give Tara a hearty congratulations! I’d also like to congratulate Little Red Gliding Hood illustrator (and PiBoIdMo 2015 Artwork Creator), Troy Cummings.

Congrats to Tara & Troy!

And as I do at the conclusion of every blog post, here are two recommendations for you:

Two for You (Tara Lazar Edition)

1. The Monstore written by Tara Lazar and illustrated by James Burks

Just in time for Halloween, pick up this family favorite, Tara Lazar’s debut!

2. I Thought This Was a Bear Book written by Tara Lazar and illustrated by Benji Davies

Alien crashes into a bear book. Hilarity ensues. Meta at its finest!

Featured Interview in Huffington Post

October 13, 2015October 13, 2015 ~ Josh Funk ~ 5 Comments

I was interviewed by The Book Doctors in the Huffington Post today in an article entitled “Josh Funk on the War Between Pancakes & French Toast, SCBWI & Getting Published” – it’s probably the most in depth interview I’ve done to date, with some seriously awesome questions, such as:

How did you go about getting a book contract not only for Lady Pancake, but also for your next two books which are coming out?
Hasn’t anyone told you that rhyming books don’t sell? How did you overcome this ridiculous idea, and why do you think people keep saying that?
What are some of the most horrifying things about being a professional author?
How has being a member of SCBWI helped you in your career and as a person?
Why in the name of all that’s good and holy would you choose to get into the publishing business? Have you had your head examined recently? Been checked for brain parasites?
How do you keep it so funky?
and more …

And I got to share the #TeamKrush logo designed by Jessie Devine.