Trick-O-Treats & Ghosts that Boo! Happy Halloween to you!

Had 2 great shows - spooky stories w math! Who knew?! Now time to get ready 4 Trick-O- Trunk!

Happy Halloween! On my way to spook more students with "Scared Silly," adding a twist of math! BOO! :)

Prepping 4 Scared Silly show Fri. Client wants math inserted. Not so EZ but wrote new song & story. Hope they go batty over new additions!

Yes, it's late but I am still going on my daily walk! Dedication, commitment... Pounds to lose... LOL

Thk u to all friends who sent well-wishes. Brother ok fr car accident - back strain only - no broken bones. He's "happy" on pain meds. Whew!

OMG! My brother was in an accident today that totaled his car. He's @ ER now getting checked. Prayers & good thoughts appreciated.

School was wonderful. Welcome sign, help w equipment & fed me too. Fantastic students & teachers!

On my way to spook 600 school children with "Scared Silly." I love my job! ;)

The Cajun Cornbread Boy, a pic bk, out Spring 09. F&G looks amazing. Tangram Tales out Dec 08. http://ping.fm/t1okz for details.

OMG! I just received the F&G for The Cajun Cornbread Boy. Looks phenomenal. Can't wait for this book to hit the shelves running! :)

My latest book, Tangram Tales, went to the printer today. It comes with a Tangram puzzle. Can't wait! Yay!

Eliana, my 8 yr. old daughter, made the "Alpha" honor roll - straight As across the board. Woohoo, Eliana! XOXOXO Mommy

Power-walked 1.5 miles today after being off the program for a while. Paying for it too... Ouch!

Really sorry I missed my 20th HS reunion. Seeing all the pics - everyone had such a good time. Maybe I'll make the 25th...

Going to The Mortuary, a premiere haunted house in New Orleans w live snakes, rats & insects. Talk abt fear factor!

Woo hoo! New Orleans Saints won in London against the San Diego chargers. 37-32

Touring haunted cabins in the creepy backwoods... My 7 yr old niece says, "My belly's scared!!"

Touring haunted cabins in the creepy backwoods... My 7 yr old niece says, "My belly's scared!!"

Eliana & I ate Iron Chef's Cat Cora's delish cuisine. Took pics w her & she promised to look @ Eliana's cooking blog!

$2.19/gallon for gas!!! How incredible is that?!!

Had an incredible show! One child said, "That lady really is magic!" Children are so adorable.

On my way to perform "Scared Silly" @ a library in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Boo!

Going out to eat Japanese & watch High School Musical 3 with Eliana. "Oh boy - Troy!!" LOL

Just spoke to my cousin in the Philippines via Skype for the first time. Wow - technology is amazing!

College daughter, Soleil, & her bf coming to town for New Orleans Voodoo Fest. Prepping the house now...

Finished early voting. LONG lines!! Waited 1.5 hrs. But I feel good. Rock ur vote! The power is in ur hands...

Going to the Scholastic Book Fair @ 8 yr. old daughter, Eliana's, school. Do we really need more books?! Um, yes! Can never have too many!

Strategizing with my web designer on my business' new direction & how my website will need to grow.

Just scheduled a major surgery for December 8. Hope to recoup by Christmas! Glad I'm getting this over with...

Wow! I cleared all contracts, filed paperwk, entered contacts, organized desk & wrote new story. To-Do List shrinking. Life is good!

Tackling a mountain of paperwork. Quick, someone get me a chisel!!

Read abt Eliana's Spookover on Story Connection blog http://ping.fm/HlvV1

Grown-up time! @ movies watching W.

OMG. 430am & girls just fell asleep. Why is it called a "sleepover" when they don't even sleep?! Time for my 2 winks...

8 little girls coming over in 1 hour for the BIG Spookover! I'm so frightened... LOL

Love "Old Lady Who Swallowed a Cat." Will use it for Story Time Halloween Party & will make those great BOO Bags. Fun! Thanks. Kitty Wood

It's 3am & I'm still buzzing around getting ready for Eliana's Spookover. It'll be an awesome party! 9 little girls sleeping @ my house...

Eliana so excited bout her Spookover - started cleaning house on own (sinks, bathrms, toilets, dusting) Maybe I should have more parties!

Busy wkend -Fri Family Fun Nite @ Eliana's sch, Haunted House, Spookover Sat, Baton Rouge Sun & Sarah Palin's on SNL! Hmmmm - interesting!

Working on Story Connection Express e-newsletter. Oct. theme: Scared Silly Stories, Games & Crafts

Shopping w/ Eliana for Spookover on Saturday - making Pizza Party Pinwheels, Jack-O-Jam Cookies, Witches Brew n more! Fun!

Watched the last debate. Definitely going to vote! Speaking of voting, I have to vote early - will be traveling on election day!

I must be feeling better. Today, I actually put makeup and heels on! LOL I still sound like a frog but at least there's sound!

Recovering slowly but have cabin fever! Gotta get better soon - bunch of little girls coming to my house this wkend for a Spookover!

Had to get out of bed to pick up daughter from school. Feeling a little better. Voice is back but very hoarse. Still on voice rest.

The only advantage to being sick is sleeping... I've slept more in the past 2 days than in the last 6 months! Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Today is Paddington Bear's 50th birthday. How cool is that? I love Paddington Bear...

Sick as a dog. Came down w flu & laryngitis. Ugh. Now I HAVE to rest. Now missing Saints game @ Dome. :(

LSU Tigers drowned in the Gator Swamp tonite. 51-21 - ouch! Played like a #50 team, not a #3 team! Maybe the Saints will win - have to hope!

Gas prices have dropped to an insane $2.89/gallon here in New Orleans!!

On my way to an educator's event @ Barnes & Noble. Love being in an environment of books & teachers! Happy Tales to you!

I have had a ball training my mother to use Skype. She's tickled by the technology. So cute! ;)

Join me on Twitter! Twitter Name: storyconnection Tweet. Tweet.

Hubspot's Webinar is now working. Glad I had to patience to hang on.

Participating in a Hubspot webinar about how to market w/ Twitter. Unfortunately, for last 18 min., they have audio probs using Gotowebinar.

Rec'd a book contract fr Pelican Publishing for Madame Poule & Monsieur Roach, A New Orleans Folktale illustrated by Marita Gentry. Woo hoo!

Received a book contract from Libraries Unlimited for Stories on Board: Creating Board Games from Favorite Tales. Yay!

Finished Story Biz Teleseminar. Went great. Take a listen... http://ping.fm/uhtue

What a fab day! 2 book contracts in my mail box - 1 I expected & a new 1 for a picture book. Woo hoo!

Made a Story Connection Blog post about performance in Gibson, LA. http://ping.fm/8ymWr

Preparing for Thursday evening teleseminar - The Story Biz Q&A http://ping.fm/uhtue

Stopped @ Wlison's Country Corner for a roast beef po-boy & some boudin balls! Oooh cher!

Finished "Scared Silly" show for K & PK children.They were adorable!

On my way to Gibson, LA to perform "Scared Silly" for children at a library! Boo!

Eliana posted a new recipe on Eliana Cooks! - 40 Clove Garlic Roasted Chicken. Super simple & delicious. http:/www.elianacooks.com

My stories & songs are going to be part of one of the hottest toys this Christmas, Smart-E-Bear. Too cool!

Working on a teleseminar, podcast, books, new workshops and new programs. I feel so ADD. LOL

I love opening my email and discovering 3 booking requests waiting for me! That's the start of a great day! :)

Just found pics of friends fr Junior High who are on Facebook. HILARIOUS. Farah Faucet was the ultimate - remember feathering ur hair?!!

On a live conference call as a panelist with Monty Harper on how to hire a performer for your library.

Discovered this thru another netwk. Never miss a homewk assignment again! Wish I had this in school! Soshiku.com http://soshiku.com/

Just added Tumblr to my growing list of social networks! Wow. How many more are out there?!!

October's Story of the Month is "Petit Pouce & His Dogs," a spooktastic tale! http://ping.fm/HRS7L

Made the front page of the Tangipahoa Parish School System website. Too cool! Check it out! http://ping.fm/cisig

Cooked a HUGE dinner for the family tonight. Eliana blogged about it on Eliana Cooks! http://ping.fm/vSLSB

Miriam Hees & Madeline Smoot of Blooming Tree Press presented great talks on editorial & pictorial points.

Miriam Hees & Madeline Smoot of Blooming Tree Press presented great talks on editorial & pictorial points.

Just listened to editor fr Abrams & Author Helen Lester (Tacky the Penguin). Good presentations.

On my way to SCBWI New Orleans conference. I look forward to seeing old friends, making new ones, and meeting editors. :)

Blenheim, NZ - "Thank you for your inspirational website. I feel encouraged. I may have a future as a Storyteller! Thank you, Dianne."

Family friend took us to dinner. Nice. Now brother & his girlfriend invited me to movie. Lucky me. :)

Family friend took us to dinner. Nice. Now brother & his girlfriend invited me to movie. Lucky me. :)

Going to SCBWI New Orleans children's writers conference tomorrow. Editors from Abrams & Blooming Tree Press will be there. Should be good.

Eliana posted new recipes to her blog, Eliana Cooks! Check out the Tantalizing Twice-Baked Taters. Terrific! http://ping.fm/vSLSB

In love w/ Audacity (records voice) & Skype (video conf). Both free downloads! Why didn't I use my laptop's webcam & microphone before?!

Got digital cam to start working again. Charging it and letting it "rest." Hope it works tomorrow! (Crossing fingers...)

Dropped my digital camera (use nearly every day for blogging & documenting shows) on the kitchen floor. It broke. Sooo upset! Argh!

Storyconnection.net earns a grade of 92 on Websitegrader.com. How does your website rate?

House finally being inspected by hurricane ins. adjuster. Went to wrong house & inspected it, thinking it was our house!

Posted Story Connection Blog http://ping.fm/8ymWr

"I attended Tangipahoa Parish Fair w/ my daughter this morning & thoroughly enjoyed your performance. You have 2 add'l fans. Thank you."

Saw approx. 2000 students today. Great shows!! Several schools want me to visit. :) But now I need a nap!

Finished setting up for my show. Big stage & tons of kids coming to this free fair. Fun!