QOTW: Who the Heck Am I?

(QOTW = Question of the Week)
"I'm a (w)itch, I'm a lover, I'm a child, I'm a mother, I'm a sinner, I'm a saint, I do not feel ashamed..." from a song by Meredith Brooks, and it sums me up as well as anything, I guess. I'm also a writer and illustrator and an observer of life. (photo by Eric Luper at the SCBWI National Conference in NYC, Feb 08)
I grew up with an oversize sense of shame and am trying to shed it. It's not easy.
I worked in advertising -- creative problem-solving under tight deadlines with a shoestring budget. I loved it, but I love writing and illustrating kids' books much more.
My first book, Ellie McDoodle, came out last year. The sequel comes out next month (bring me to your school to talk about it!).
This author stuff thrills me and I don't take any of it for granted; I've endured a very healthy share of rejection, and insecurity still haunts me.
This blog brings together some of my dearest friends, my critique group. I don't always agree with their assessment of my work (especially when they like it -- ha!) but I know they're brilliant and they have something to say that's worth hearing. And that's why I'm glad they're blogging; it'll be like being on permanent vacation with them. :)

Answering My Own Question

Who the heck am I?

I’m a thirty-six year old mother of two, wife to John and substitute teacher to about 500. I’m a reader and writer of middle grade fiction. I’m a butcher, baker and candlestick maker—well, maybe only a baker, but I would like to know how to make candles. I have no interest in butchering, except perhaps where mice are concerned, blind or otherwise.

I love lilacs, and late-bloomers, Balderdash and bedtime stories, Motown and Mozart, ballet and Bob Fosse, steak and salad, lyrical prose and iambic pentameter, Andrew Wyeth and Ansel Adams, Harry and Sally, Atonement and E.T., Frog and Toad, Jack and Annie, Wilbur and Charlotte, Ramona and Beezus, Mary and Laura, Meg, Beth, Jo and Amy. The list goes on. . . .

And even when I’m very old, I still won't know the answer. I will always be a person looking for herself in books, film, theater and pictures.

Who the heck am I?

I’m a writer, so I can always be finding out.

Question of The Week

One of the features of our blog will be called, "The Question of The Week." This will occur weekly (duh), and many times have something to do with the creative process.

For the inaugural installment, the question is just this: Who the heck are you? Pretty straightforward, easy to answer, and not likely to produce duplicate responses. Briefly describe your day job, hobbies, perhaps a word or two about the audience(s) you write for, and one thing about yourself that not many people know.

The game is afoot! (should I credit Sir Arthur Conan Doyle here?)