Blackout Poetry and Art on Display!

Art Wall

South Bellevue Community Center

Sixteen original blackout poems are framed and hanging on the art wall at the SBCC from now until the end of September. My previous books--Sounds Complicated and Distance Between (Amazon links) are represented as well as my latest book, Carried Away, available today!

Carried Away: Blackout Poetry & Art

by Stacia Leigh

Third Place!

 

PNWA Literary Contest Winner!

Young Adult

I'm on the big screen! I won third place in the young adult category for my unpublished Christmas romance last weekend. Also up there is my dog, Tilly Bean, who loves the camera more than I do. Not a very professional picture you might say, but not to worry! A long-overdue update is on deck 😉 📷🌟

Write-O-Rama!

Fun for Puget Sound Writers!

The Tipsy Typers (A Writing Club-In-A-Pub) is proud to announce Write-O-Rama on March 30, 2024 from 1:00-6:00 pm.

Write-O-Rama!

Part write-in, part social mixer, Write-O-Rama aims to expand your writing community and your word count, all during one enjoyable afternoon at the pub.

Amateurs and pros, extroverts and introverts, pro-tipsy and tea-sipsy are welcome. Come join the fun! To learn more and get your place reserved, click the link below:

https://www.confabarts.com/tipsy-typer-write-o-rama

Don't wait too long, space is limited!

Selected for the Writers' Room Residency 2024

Guess where I'll be writing this year? I've been selected to participate in the Writers' Room Residency program for 2024, so I'll be tippy-tapping away in the Eulalie and Carlo Scandiuzzi Writers’ Room at the Seattle Public Library! Whoot!

Inside the Writers' Room

Seattle Public Library

Want to read more about it or apply next year? Check out more information here:

https://seattlemedium.com/seattle-public-library-invites-writers-to-apply-for-prestigious-writers-room-residency-program/

PNWA Finalist for 2023: Picture Book Category

 My picture book story is a finalist for the PNWA Literary contest!

Clinks all around to my writing buddies and the others on the list. Whoot! Time to celebrate!

There's a party goin' on right here,

A celebration to last throughout the years.

So bring your good times and your laughter, too,

We gonna celebrate your party with you!

First Place!

 

PNWA Literary Contest Winner

Short Story

After my dad passed away, I hunched over my writing desk and wrote a fiction short story to process my grief. What was happening to my dad? What was he thinking in those last days? Where did he go? This story touched my heart. I cried while writing it...I cried while editing it...I cried again after taking first place at the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2022 Conference.

I could feel my dad with me in spirit at the awards dinner last night, and if I could have, I would've hugged him. Thank you, Dad, for the love and the inspiration.

Premade eBook Cover Designs

In between writing, gardening, and turning an old 1977 single-wide trailer into a cute farm cottage, I've been designing book covers for a fellow author, and enjoying the process! I have a deluge of photos from my photography days that I decided to make into premade eBook covers for those in need. Here are the first eight out of the chute!

Check out my ESPIALdesign Etsy shop and if you see an eBook cover you like, buy it and make it yours. Want to collaborate on a full wrap paperback version? I'm only an email away. Contact me (stacia_design at espialdesign dot com) and let's discuss.

Newly Released! Hanging Around for You

It's a 2020 New Release party where politics rage on, no one is invited, and toilet paper is in short supply (c'mon, that was so last March). Because, y'know...Covid. It's the same reason that SCBWI is nearly a month late mentioning their award winners.

Hence, I'm getting "holding pattern" fatigue with my latest book, Hanging Around for You. It's been a button-push away from publication for weeks while I wait for SCBWI, the election, the pandemic, asteroids...

How close is a buzz-cut?

Okay, never mind. I don't have to wait for asteroids anymore, and that being the case, then I don't have to wait to publish. I can do what I want because that's the beauty of being independent. So...BOOM! Done. It's out there, people. Released into the wild...

Want to read a young adult love story where an abandoned girl lies to hide a grievous secret about her narcissistic mother only to catch the attention of the mysterious new kid at school? Oh, man, is he cute! But he seems like a big liar himself...very "sus." Lol.

 

Hanging Around for You on Amazon 

"Waiting for the right time...to do the wrong thing."

 

Check it out and leave a review if you want. I've heard those things help authors on the Amazon front...but then it's 2020. What do I know about anything?

 

Remember when this was funny?
Yeah...not so much anymore.

 

__________________________________________

 

"One day, she realized that she was the only one who could live her life..."

Developmental Edit: Outlook Good

Sometimes a person has to break through a barrier of some kind (sorry Magic 8 Ball!) to manifest the kind of change their looking for. Persevere mentally, brick-by-brick, word-by-word because you want it bad enough. Don't give up! For me, I wanted the outlook to be good, and after a couple whacks with my hammer I got it ;)

Outlook good!

After taking four years to write, rearrange, get critiques, and write some more, I finally have completed my third story. It was a long, arduous haul, and I was pretty nervous sending it off to my developmental editor. It's a blessing and a curse and her job to not hold back, so I expected the same treatment that I got for my first two books. Instead, I got a lift! Good news--only a few minor changes ahead!

___________________________________

"Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress no matter how slow." ~ Plato

A Hat Trick

I'm in Montana with my folks, visiting my grandma in the nursing home, helping out on our acreage, getting my "rural" on...when I received some very good news!

Working on my farmer's tan.

I got an email today from one of my writing friends that said, "Did you see that you're listed as a finalist in YA, too? Hat trick."

Neat Wheat

Here's Google's definition of a hat trick: three successes of the same kind, especially consecutive ones within a limited period. This I already know from reading one of my all time favorite hockey romances: Rachel Gibson's See Jane Score.

Now, I've pulled my own hat trick.

No hats...just new boots.

Back in June, PNWA contacted me with exciting news, letting me know my work is a finalist for the middle grade unpublished category and that Dealing with Blue is a finalist for the Nancy Pearl Book Award.

Today, I've just learned that Will's story (book #2 in the chute) is a finalist in the PNWA Literary Contest for the young adult category. I'm so excited! Especially since PNWA never contacted me regarding this one. 

Wanna dance, Tilly Bean?

The end of July is the PNWA conference where the winners will be announced. Can't wait!

__________________________

"In order to kick ass you must first lift your foot." ~ Jen Sincero

Whoot! Exciting News!

In two days, I've received two sweet emails from PNWA. The first email went a little something like this:

"You nailed it! You're awesome! We're proud of you! Great job! Great story! Great everything!"

Okay...all that was roaring through my head while the real email was very calm and polite sounding. Apparently my middle grade story (for ages 7-12), the third in my series, is a finalist for the unpublished literary contest.

"Congratulations! You are a finalist in the 2016 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest. You should be very proud as PNWA received close to a thousand contest entries from all around the world.  An agent or editor will be selecting the first, second and third place winners in each category."

It was a bittersweet moment because my baby, my second young adult romance (Will's story) didn't make the cut in it's category. Sniff...sniff.

Then, WHAMO!

The second email came today announcing Dealing with Blue as a finalist for the published contest, the Nancy Pearl Book Award. OMG! No more sniffing. I'm one in five, and even if I don't place, getting this far means a lot to me.

Time to celebrate.

Dealing with Blue

PNWA Nancy Pearl Book Award

2016 Finalist

"The only failure is quitting. Everything else is just gathering information."

~ Jen Sincero from You Are a Badass

More Great News from PNWA

Part of the PNWA Literary Contest process included two critiques by the finalist judges. I forgot about that until I received a surprise in the mail this past weekend. I read and re-read the reviewers' comments, and I'm pretty sure I glowed.

Each judge gave me 49 out of 50 points!

It's just the kind of pat-on-the-back I needed to move forward. I've read editing books and made all the edits that I can. I've had multiple eyes reviewing and critiquing my manuscript. I've labored and worried; I'm finally ready to move on.

Yesterday, I created my query letter, and today, I sent my baby out into the world. I've reviewed several agents and made a list.

Sending it out and finally letting it go...a weird and wonderful feeling. I've done my best, and now, it's time to focus on editing book #2 and finishing the rough draft for book #3.

Camp NaNoWriMo couldn't  have come at a better time. Here comes July!

PNWA Finalist! Whoot!

I'm excited to announce that I'm a finalist for the Children's Picture Book and Chapter Book Division of the PNWA Literary Contest. I got the email late last night:

Congratulations! You're entry is a finalist in the 2013 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest. 

You should be very proud, as PNWA’s contest is extremely competitive. We have received entries from the USA, Australia, Canada, Europe, and the U.K.

First and second place winners will be invited to a special reception with agents and editors following the Award Celebration.  

The Award Celebration is a key part of our annual conference. Our annual conference takes place July 25 – 28, 2013, at the Seattle Hilton Airport and Conference Center.   

Congratulations again and good luck!

Just in time to add this baby to my query letter! You know, that paragraph where you're supposed to write about your published work, credentials as a writer, and awards received. Well...I've always had to gloss over that...but now, NOW, I can say I'm a finalist.

"You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it." ~ Marlon Brando, On the Waterfront (1954)

I'm a Finalist!

Deux Pois Bakery Confections
"All Buttoned Up" Contest entry

While perusing the Cloth Paper Scissors website, I came across the list of 24 finalists for the "All Buttoned Up" contest...and my name is on it! I should have gotten an email letting me know, but never did. Truly, a Black Friday surprise!

Calendar Project for NPR

NPR recently contacted me with an invitation to participate in their 2009 calendar. The production manager wrote, "Your illustrations in the Directory of Illustration were delightful, with their whimsy and textures." Nice to know that my page in the Directory is getting noticed and advertising is paying off...well, sort of...

NPR invited me to contribute an illustration. It's not a paying job, but it will promote my artwork to the 10-18,000 listeners that will receive the calendar. They will also send me 200 calendars of my own to distribute. My name, bio and contact information will be next to my artwork in the calendar. Advertising begets advertising!

IMT Featured Artist

IMT's Featured Artist Article

I just found out through a comment on my latest post that I'm the featured artist this week at Inspire Me Thursday. Click here to see the entire article.

Positive Feedback cont...

I've sold another image this week with two more as future transactions. Everyone has favorites for different reasons and I love hearing what draws each individual to a particular image. Most of the work I've sold thus far have been older pieces, which surprises me! Here are the images of interest this week:

Ballet series: The Nutcracker

Heart Quilt series: A Chocolate Solution!

Cat's Cradle

Again, thanks everyone for your awesome and inspiring comments! I've been so busy these past few weeks with client work and personal projects that I have been negligent in creating new artwork. I have several things brewing and hopefully will get them done to display at Sequoia Hospital's art corridor before the end of July.

Cheers!

Positive Feedback!

I've had lots of positive comments regarding my artwork currently installed in the Sequoia Hospital's art corridor. Thanks to everyone who's left the wonderful feedback! It's uplifting to hear that my work is being enjoyed by so many.

I've made a couple sales just today and a pending transaction for early July. A portion of my sales from this show will go back to the community through the Sequoia Hospital Foundation. Below is the artwork that has sold so far: