We interrupt Percy to announce "The Picture Book Marathon!"

Percy will continue tomorrow. Today, I want to announce THE PICTURE BOOK MARATHON 2011! Here is the logo (drawn by me!)

The Picture Book Marathon is like NaNoWriMo, but for picture book authors. The marathon starts February 1st, participants write 26 picture books, one a day (with two days off) through the month of February. This is about writing, not illustrating. You just write the stories. Everyone keeps tabs on their own progress, the stories aren't turned in or displayed publicly.

If you were here last year, you'll remember my 2010 run through the PBM (along side "The Land of Doom" story--check back to Feb. 2010 to see it, if you haven't already.) I displayed my cover illustrations and a brief synopsis for each book. I'll be doing the same thing this year. And maybe, maybe, wandering into the next stage of The Land of Doom.

Everyone is welcome to join and and play along! Finishers receive...well, the 26 picture book manuscripts they wrote, and the personal satisfaction that only comes with forced creativity! If you want to join, visit www.picturebookmarathon.org. There will be t-shirts available, with the artwork above printed on them.

Do it, sign up, you know you want to. You have twelve days to get psyched up for it!