Downs and Ups

   I had such high hopes for my story Biscochito Man, which went to the acquisitions committee at Charlesbridge in December.  But the word came today from editor Julie Ham that they had turned it down.
   However, the bad news came on a good day--because I won Round 1 of the March Madness Poetry Tournament!  Last year I went out in the first round, so my goal this year was just to make it through to Round 2.  The voting this year is in three parts: the general public, the other "authletes," and classrooms.  I am very pleased to have won all three!
    General public--126 to 71
    Other poets--27 to 13
    Classroom--11 to 6
     I was fun to have my daughter Molly in Seattle following the voting and the comments, and texting me that she was proud of me.  My word was an odd one, "junto," and here is my poem:
Ben Hangin' With His Junto
Ben Franklin was a printer, an inventor and a wit.
He loved discussing issues in a tavern where he'd sit
With eleven friends, his junto, to moralize and sip.
"A penny saved's a penny earned!"  Ben never left a tip.
Begun in 1727, they met each Friday night,
Until the tavern staff suggested Ben go fly a kite.

Poetry Up Ahead

   Hurray!  I found out last night that I made it into this year's March Madness poetry contest.  It was great fun last year.  I'm also looking forward to this event in April:

Let the rhyming begin!