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From the Heart: Weathering Change
"The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived." - Robert Jordan
In like a lion and out like a lamb can mean March comes in rough and leaves calmer, weather-wise.
This makes me think of what's happening with the federal workforce.
In my primary job I catch naughty folk for the Government and in late February, the White House directed all Federal Agencies and organizations to submit a mass list of personnel who'll be cut from their organizations by 13 Mar 2025.
Thoughts of being cut wasn't on my bucket list, or any list, because the plan is to retire in the next 17-30 months. Then I can write full-time, and take breaks to do charity work around the globe. That's my fantasy life I'm looking forward to because I've worked since I was eight-years-old.
And an unplanned termination means delaying this goal, and having to find one or more new jobs to keep food on the table until retirement can be requested without penalties.
Like the unpredictable March weather, life throws us curveballs that test our resilience. Sometimes we face storms before the calm arrives.
Happiness Hack #7: Embrace Transitions
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
When faced with unexpected change, I've learned that our response matters more than the change itself. Here's what helps me navigate transitions:
- Remember your north star - Keep your ultimate goals in sight, even when the path changes
- Find the opportunity - Every disruption contains seeds of possibility
- Create backup plans - Having contingency plans reduces anxiety and increases confidence
- Trust your journey - Sometimes delays lead to better destinations
Daily practice: When facing uncertainty, ask yourself: "What can I control in this situation, and what must I accept?" Then focus your energy on the controllable elements.
The Bella Brown Series Update
"Stories are a communal currency of humanity." - Tahir Shah
Completely unrelated, I sent my ninth Bella Brown picture book for children ages four to eight to my editor Marcy to do her third edit review of Bella Brown's Candy Cane Curfuffle. I'm excited about this book because I always wanted to write about different Christmas Characters around the globe and the story spent years marinating in my imagination before I was able to get the story just right.
Here's what the story's about:
When Ms. Kringle announces the town's Annual Candy Cane Christmas Celebration Parade, Bella and her classmates bubble with excitement to share their holiday traditions. But soon, everyone argues about whose tradition is the best.
With a sprinkle of magic from Pip the Domovoi and wisdom from Grandma Yetta, Bella's class discovers something wonderful: From Santa Claus to Christkind, from the three kings to Ded Moroz, from the Christmas witches (La Befana, Frau Perchta, and Frau Holle) to Krampus, every tradition holds its own special enchantment.
Join Bella on a magical journey around the world as she learns that the holiday spirit speaks all languages and the greatest gift is understanding.
Children will delight in discovering connections between these global celebrations and their own family traditions.
✨ Discover eight magical gift-bringers from different cultures ✨ Search for mischievous Pip hiding in the illustrations ✨ Includes a kid-friendly glossary and fun activity pages
Perfect for ages 4-8
A heartwarming celebration of friendship, diversity, and holiday magic.
Magical March: A Month of Celebrations
"Life is a celebration, and when you celebrate life, you celebrate yourself." - Debasish Mridha
Getting back to the month of March, like many of you, I like to think of St. Patrick's Day on March 17th, where we honor Saint Patrick, the main patron saint of Ireland, which this cultural and religious celebration marks the traditional date of his death. With many partaking in festivities celebrating Irish culture and heritage, with festivals, parades, and green decorations and clothing.
I also think of Holi on March 14th. Holi is an ancient Hindu festival known for its color-spraying, water fights, singing and dancing in the streets. It celebrates love, spring, and the victory of good against evil. I've seen videos of people throwing fistfuls of color at one another. I'd love to participate because it looks like uber-awesome-fantastic fun.
I like the Harry Potter series and films for those who love Hogwarts houses. Guess what, you can celebrate special days dedicated to them:
- 🦡 Hufflepuff Pride Day - 20 March
- 🐍 Slytherin Pride Day - 21 March
- 🦁 Gryffindor Pride Day - 22 March
- 🦅 Ravenclaw Pride Day - 23 March
Of course, if you write or are into picture books, then 02 Mar is Dr. Seuss Day. Do you like green eggs and ham, Sam...
And for you folks who love grammar, 04 Mar is National Grammar Day. Oops, I mean National Grammar Day.
And for those of you who can't make up your minds, 09 Mar is both Panic Day, and National Get Over It Day.
For those of you who love Pizza, 14 Mar is National Pi Day. Yes, that has everything to do with math, and nothing to do with pizza, unless you visit the Pi Pizzeria in Washington DC. And if you're not into pizza but crazy about math, then on 26 Mar you get to celebrate World Maths Day.
While you're in DC, you can stop at the National Zoo on 16 Mar, because it's National Panda Day, and the panda there is very cute.
And 25 Mar is National Puppy Day, and everyone loves puppies. And for those of you who don't, when prepared correctly, tastes just like chicken. Wait, what!?! Stop, I'm kidding--I don't know what chicken tastes like.
Ooh, and if you're a Lord of the Rings (LOTR) Fan, then 25 Mar is also Tolkien Reading Day.
Historical March Moments
"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again." - Maya Angelou
Ooh and if you're into historical events...
- 6 March 1475: Michelangelo is born in Caprese, Italy
- 14 March 1879: Albert Einstein is born in Ulm, Germany
- 15 March, 44BC: Julius Caesar is assassinated in Rome
- 21 March 1685: Bach, the organist and composer, is born in Eissenach, Germany
- 30 March 1853: Vincent Van Gogh is born in Groot Zundert, Holland
Author's Education Corner: Weathering the Storms of Change
"Writing is not a matter of time, but a matter of space." - Richard Bach
Writing, like March weather, is unpredictable. One day the words flow like sunshine, the next brings a creative drought. Just as we navigate seasonal transitions, writers must weather the changing landscapes of:
- Industry shifts - The publishing world is constantly evolving, with new platforms and reader preferences emerging yearly
- Personal seasons - Our own lives cycle through productive periods and fallow times
- Creative rhythms - Even the most disciplined writers experience natural ebbs and flows
What I've learned is that weathering these changes requires flexibility without losing sight of your core vision. When my federal career faces uncertainty, I'm reminded that my writing journey has always been about adaptability.
"Sometimes you need to write other stories first to find the right way to tell the one that's been waiting."
Writer Facts, News, and Metrics
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
Three author facts and statistics:
- Authors who publish consistently (at least 1 book per year) see 40% higher reader retention
- Picture book authors who offer school visit programs report 35% higher engagement rates
- Series authors earn 65% more per book than those publishing standalone titles
Three publishing facts and statistics:
- Print book sales continue to grow, with children's picture books showing a 12% increase in 2024
- Series books outperform standalone titles by 65% in the children's market
- Author-illustrator collaborations that span multiple books show 47% higher sales than one-time partnerships
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