Saturday, December 16, 2023

Tinkering with Stephen King Videos...

 Well, I guess you could say I've gone ALL-IN on my Stephen King YouTube channel... It has absorbed most of my creative energies for about a year now... This is in no small part due to the fact that the videos are popular (in comparison to my Wade Bradford channel)... and the money has started to trickle in each month, just about enough to make a monthly payment on the kids' student loans. 

And they are a LOT of fun to make. 

If there is any downside, it's only that I know I'm dedicating a lot of time and energy into material that is derivative. I don't mean that as a slam against myself... I just mean that I'm playing around with another artist's work -- and so it's not going to be much more than a combination of fan-fiction and light literary analysis. 

But for now, I'm not sure about my next step as a writer of original works... I wouldn't say that the well has run dry... but it certainly seems like my middle grade adventures don't really have an audience... 

So, I'm waiting to be struck by the next brilliant idea for a picture book... But those moments of brilliance don't come often for me. 

Ugh -- I didn't mean to make another blog post whining about my writing -- but that's my favorite journal topic; I couldn't resist. Anyways... here is the latest Stephen King video. It's based upon his short story "Dolan's Cadillac." Enjoy! 







Sunday, October 29, 2023

Happy Halloween! 2023

 Wow -- it has been a little while, blog. Sorry I've been away so long!


Here's a fun video promo for Horton Hears a Boo! It's in so many bookstores, even Barnes and Noble is carrying it. 





A big thank you to anyone and everyone who reads these blogposts. As 2023 winds down, I'm not sure what I'll be working on next, but I can't wait to find out. 

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Horton Has Arrived!

 

Yesterday, I received my author copies of Horton Hears a Boo! 


Needless to say, we're having a Who-bilation here at the Bradford house. 


It arrives in bookstores this August!

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Working on a New Stephen King Video...

 And I've been playing with crayons... Can you guess which Stephen King story I'll be bringing to life? 




Friday, June 2, 2023

Horton Hears a Boo!

 

This blog is way overdue for a cover reveal of my latest book: 



To say writing a new Dr. Seuss book is a "dream come true" is an understatement. I still can't believe I was chosen to write a new Horton story... like millions of other children, I learned to read, thanks to Dr. Seuss. I fell in love with books because of Dr. Seuss. It's hard to say just how much this artist's shaped my imagination... 

So, to be asked to continue the story of this loyal elephant, this defender of the little guy... all I can say is that I'm grateful. 

 


Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Today's Project: New Video for Stephen King's THE STAND

 

Spent the last couple of days tinkering on a new video for the Stephen King Book Club channel... It think it turned out pretty well... 





Mackenzie and her family said farewell and spent about 24 hours on the road back to Texas. I miss them already. 


Settling into summer break; trying to stay productive. My agent and I went over some final (?) editorial notes on the Middle Grade book. In theory, it should be going out this week -- but we'll see... 


And I finished the first and second draft of the new picture book idea (about a Platypus)... but it still needs work, specifically the last act of the story. I tinkered with it today... but now I'm not quite feeling it... Too lazy after working on the video all morning and afternoon. Guess I should have worked on the book first! 


Today's Progress: 

-- Captain Trips Video ( STEPHEN KING BOOK CLUB ) 

-- Tinkered on new story ( 6 / 8  PICTURE BOOKS ) 

Friday, May 26, 2023

The Power of Being a Brat

 

I've been working on a new picture book (as mentioned in a previous post). I thought the draft was good enough to send to Abi... but now I'm thinking it needs to cook some more. The Second Act needs work. 


Still... I think there's a cool turn of events in this one... I know lots of bratty characters have been in children's lit before... but this one feels new since it explores not just the disadvantages but also the advantages of being a brat.


This is, at least in part, inspired by my mom. Not that she's a brat. But she is a "Karen." 


Karens, as you may or may not know, dear reader, have become a slang term for someone who complains about things that shouldn't be complained about... My mom doesn't usually do this (thank goodness)... but she was always willing to stand up and complain about something she felt passionate about... and that's a quality I often lack and sometimes envy... So, I guess that's what my book tries to tap into... 


I'll tinker with it some more and then (hopefully) submit it to my agent on Monday. 


I've had a leisurely day this morning and afternoon. I've basically done nothing but re-read the first 100 pages of Stephen King's THE STAND. 


I'm trying to recall exactly when I first read it... Not sure if it was the late 80s or early 90s. And I can't quite remember if I read the book first or watched the mini-series first. I'm pretty sure I read it first... I think when I was in high school...