Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
Y’all, I am exhausted! But in a good way. I was out of town last week on school visits, and this week, I had my We Belong virtual book launch party and two virtual school visits. Whee! And whew!
I can’t tell you how much it filled my heart to see a bunch of Poetry Friday and online poetry friends in the Chat in the book launch. I always worry that nobody will show up. And it’s true that almost every single person attending was either an IRL friend or an online friend. Thank you for showing up at the end of a long day of work or other responsibilities just to support me. It meant a LOT! [Edited to add: This is in NO way meant to inspire guilt in those of you who were not there. Please don’t apologize! I miss opportunities weekly–practically daily–to support my friends in ways that I would like to. The truth is that there are just so few hours of free time! I have felt the community support, whether you were there at the launch or not. And this hug is for YOU, too!]
In gratitude, here’s a virtual thank you hug that I’m resharing. I truly felt embraced.
And for lots of wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with the always heartfelt and encouraging Kat Apel!
I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the book launch. I didn’t realize it conflicted with Ash Wednesday church service. Hope it went well. I love your hug poem.
Thanks, Margaret–no apologies needed :>)
Oh. Thank-you for that beautiful thing you said, which is a hug in itself. And for your all-embracing poem. I am so glad you were surrounded by friends at your book launch. ????
Thanks so much, Kat!
Laura! Hooray for another book launch. I’m exhausted too. Apologies for missing the launch. Would you believe I came home from school and crashed for a nap? Then, I went to bed on time too. Goodness. Anyway, I’m delighted to receive a hug in this post. It’s wonderful. Thank you.
What I believe is you totally deserved a nap, Linda! :>)
Congratulations on this book, Laura! I can’t wait to find a copy. So glad your launch went well! A hug is the largest circle in the world. Love that.
Thank you, Janice :>)
Thanks for the hug!! Glad your launch went well; looking forward to seeing We Belong. 🙂
Thanks, Jama!
Congratulations! Your book came this week and I can’t wait to sit with it this weekend and soak it all in! I love how you included math and various sizes of a circle because hugs are sometimes different sizes too.
Aw, thank you so much, Mandy! I hope you like it!
Hugs are huge bonuses of love, Laura. Thank you for the hug poem. It is clever. I did enjoy your webinar and was so glad that I took the time to listen. BTW, I presented on Zoom this week for Reading Association professional development event to teachers interested in preparing for National Poetry Month. I offered teachers choices on how to entice students to write. Among the five choices I shared your equation poem format and the 15 or less poem. I heard some sighs of excitement over the equation poem. While presenting, I remembered how wonderful it was to present with you in real time. Keep on writing books that make children feel engaged with your words.
In-real-life presenting together–someday, right? Although author visits and huge conferences drain me, they also fill me up, and I miss them both. Such a contradiction! Thanks for sharing a couple of my poetry activities with teachers! I’m honored, especially as I know there are SO many fabulous poetry starters to choose from. I bet teachers left your session excited about the possibilities for April :>)
Sending YOU a virtual hug, Laura. You can’t feel in real time, but it’s there. <3
And I do feel it, sitting here at 5:45 in the dark morning, catching up on some Poetry Friday things. I do!
Oh, Laura, I love this! Congratulations on your book launch!
Thank you for the poemsketch hug! And congrats on your book launch! I hope to figure out how/when to know about these things as I wander in the kidlit world!
Love your math class circle analogy, hugs are wonderful whatever size they are, thanks for this special hug-poem! And what a special treat your book launch was–I enjoyed hearing about how “we all wear our skin just like trees wear their bark.” I’m happy I could be there and looking forward to receiving your new book!
How like you to express your thanks in such a creative way, Laura! I’ve been thinking about you and all your happy bookish poetry news and delighting with you from the sidelines. Congratulations!!!
Love that hug poem! I’ve not been out and about online much lately, so I’ve missed lots. But congratulations on your book launch!