Saturday, December 19, 2009

New Website/Blog Features

I'll be kicking off the new year with some cool new changes to the blog and website.

Book of the Month

Starting January 1st, I'm going to put up a book review of one of my favorite children's poetry collections each month.

Members' Mailing List

Members of my mailing list will get a monthly email with poems, book suggestions and fun activities. Sign up here.

Printable Coloring Pages


Coming Soon: Printable coloring pages of Nelly & Ned and other poetry characters.

Printable Crosswords and Games

And don't forget to buy a personalized poem from my webstore while they're still available!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Happy Holidays

This will be the first year that I'm not wishing for a white Christmas. I'll be flying JFK to Buffalo in the morning. I really hope Buffalo isn't snowed over!

On that note, Happy Holidays everyone. Here's a Christmas poem for you guys to enjoy. It's one of the ditties I write to put up on my website's opening page for each holiday.



We forgot the tree this Christmas Eve.

When Santa found out he must have been peeved.

I found our gifts on the front lawn

With a letter attached that told where we went wrong.

It said, “Look, it’s bad enough these days

That nobody has a fireplace.

I’m trying hard to modernize

In attempt to accommodate you guys.

But your doors have thirty seven locks

And those giant red sacks hardly resemble socks.

I had to send the elves to college

So they can build those fancy e-lec-tronics.

Everyone left cookies again.

That’s a lot of sugar for a senior citizen.

All I’m asking for is a way to get in

And a place to put the presents I bring.

Next year I hope that you’ll agree

To leave the door open and put up a tree”

Monday, December 7, 2009

Acrostic Name Poems Now Available!

If you check out my website, you can now order personalized acrostic name poems for your kids. Get them now while they're still available. People are ordering them faster than I can write them!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Personalized Name Poems for Kids

I've had quite a few people email me asking for personalized poems for their kids. So naturally I've decided to give it a shot. These aren't going to be the fill in the blank impersonal ones you can buy anywhere. I want to individualize them to each kid so they can be something special parents or kids can hold onto.

In the next couple of weeks, check my website for ordering options. I'll post more info when I have it.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Twitter Anyone?

Let me know if you have a Twitter!

You can follow me here: http://twitter.com/TaraGebhardt

Another Poem Up

I put this one up because my brother seemed to like it. We had a cat growing up that was the meanest creature on earth. She hated me and inspired this poem, Sweet Snuggle Muffkins Phillip McGee

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Halloween is OVER

RIP for another year Halloween. Thank you for the cider, donuts and candy.

Monday, October 26, 2009

2010

Now booking schools and libraries for 2010
Well, The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators made a tough decision I've been thinking about for about a year much easier. After last year's winter conference came and went, I decided that I would make the effort to go to the next one. It isn't cheap. Not for me at any rate. My family could use 350 or so odd bucks quite a few different ways. That's not to mention the cost involved in driving down to NYC.

I'm not going to go.

You have no idea how disappointed I was when I saw the schedule. Two days? How can I justify throwing down at least $500 for a two day event? I was expecting a schedule like the Summer Conference, but maybe the NYC conference is just the summer conference's neglected stepchild. Who knows?

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Halloween is coming!

I've updated the "Welcome Poem" on my website so it's be a bit more festive, :)

Although Halloween isn't as awesome as Christmas, it is still the second best holiday ever and it's only a little over a week away. This will be the first year we take Liam Trick-Or-Treating! He can't eat the candy, of course, but it'll be nice to have him involved in the festivities. Ye haw for cowboy Liam and his horse-dog, Mickey!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Liam

At the cusp of the winter when the season’s in dreams
And the cold, quiet air had frozen the streams,
She felt the heart beat, saw the wide active eyes
Of a child who already had too much on his mind.

She looked to her lover, saw both their hearts shatter
Only to be built softer and stronger.
She said, “Son, you’ve shown me the depths of our soul.
I couldn’t be more proud if you invented Rock and Roll.”

The child lay on her chest. He watched everyone pass
With those wide awake eyes of deep ocean glass.
And she knew without doubt and beyond righteous reason
That this was the purpose of the forthcoming season.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

New Website!

I'm very excited about my new website. I've been putting every second of my free time into it. It's still in the very early stages of development, but take a gander:

http://taragebhardt.webs.com/

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Introductions

It's about time I started a blog. I've been toying with idea for some time, but time really does seem to be the problem. Liam keeps me on my toes, no doubt about that. I work on my writing during his naps. (Almost done with the book!) And then there are the endless, ever-changing and random "things" that always come up. Yesterday I was very, very ill. (I had an infection.) Usually they're more pleasant--you know--playgrounds; picnics; libraries; softball.

It's starting to get harder to take Liam out. He has so much energy! He's something else, that kid; only 15 months old but I'd swear he's 15 some times. That boy has way too much personality to keep in such a little body so I guess it has to bubble over sometimes. Man, he's fun though.

Anyway, I guess this was less of an introduction and more in medias res. So here is the real intro:

My name is Tara Gebhardt. I'm married to an amazing, super awesome guy named Britt. He's the bee's knees. We have one child and one dog-child. Our human child was born March 4th, 2008 and as far as I'm concerned, he's the greatest creature ever created. Our dog, Mickey, is 75 pounds of pure German Shepherd trouble, but sweet. (That's how they getchya.)

I'm a children's writer. I (almost exclusively) write poetry. I'm sure much of this blog will be dedicated to Liam and my writing. I guess that's it. So long for now!

-t