It has been really crazy lately: between work and trying to get my apartment put together! This week the airconditioning was broken for the FOURTH time! This time the temperature rose to 91! Needless to say, I have tried to spend the least amount of time in here as possible. Today the landlord installed a window unit and it is still pretty warm but getting better! However I haven't gotten anything done in the way of reading or writing!
Other than that, nothing else new is happening! The fair is in town, and it shows as traffic continues to increase and people crawl around our humid little town like ants at a picnic! The weather doesn't seem to be standing in the way!
More to come! I work all weekend so I will be posting agian soon!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Inspiration Re-Load!
I have been neglecting the much needed work that my YA Novel needs! But not necessarily because I want too. Lately, I have had a mix of writers block and a lack of inspiration! So, yesterday I took a trip to the park that started it all!
Peter Pan Park is a town park with a history as big as the park itself! The story is that William Allen White dedicated the park to his daughter, Mary, who was killed in a accident. She had told her father many times that she never wanted to grow up, which is why he named the park after the famous and whimsical story of Peter Pan, the boy who lived in Neverland and also did not want to grow up, so he didn't!
I fell in love with this park the very first day we came upon it. It was over a year ago and my two friends and I were on a ride to find a place to eat in the new town we had just moved too. Needless to say, with three different girls with three different opinions as to which direction we should go...we got lost! But in the process of getting lost, we found the park.
At first the park comes off as any other park; big with lots of toys. But as we continued to walk we discovered so much more and the further I walked the more thoughts popped into my head about a story that would take anyone for a ride.
The park is approximately 51.7 acres and that includes a 4 acre lake. There is a wading pool for children under 6, and a variety of toy structures that model various children's stories such as the The Little Old Lady Who Lived in a the Itsy Bitsy Spider. The lake is open to fishing within certain regulation and there are tennis courts, horse shoe posts and so much more. But among it all is the most beautiful scenery that I think I have ever seen in a park and numerous older structures that leave the imagination wide open!
My story started the fist time my foot hit the path that lead into that park. Since that day I have been working on the novel that brings the park to life and that I hope will one day bring others to the park with the intent of exploring it all!
Re-visiting the park yesterday was a huge help in getting me back in gear. I took a few pictures (to be uploaded on here soon), and even discovered a few new places that inspired new chapters!
I am sorry but I will not be posting any of the story on here as I do not like to reveal any of my work early and of course to protect my ideas! BUT, I hope to complete my manuscript soon and then the fun begins! Hopefully we can get it published before I "grow-up" too much! :0) Though I highly doubt that will happen completely for a really long time!
Peter Pan Park is a town park with a history as big as the park itself! The story is that William Allen White dedicated the park to his daughter, Mary, who was killed in a accident. She had told her father many times that she never wanted to grow up, which is why he named the park after the famous and whimsical story of Peter Pan, the boy who lived in Neverland and also did not want to grow up, so he didn't!
I fell in love with this park the very first day we came upon it. It was over a year ago and my two friends and I were on a ride to find a place to eat in the new town we had just moved too. Needless to say, with three different girls with three different opinions as to which direction we should go...we got lost! But in the process of getting lost, we found the park.
At first the park comes off as any other park; big with lots of toys. But as we continued to walk we discovered so much more and the further I walked the more thoughts popped into my head about a story that would take anyone for a ride.
The park is approximately 51.7 acres and that includes a 4 acre lake. There is a wading pool for children under 6, and a variety of toy structures that model various children's stories such as the The Little Old Lady Who Lived in a the Itsy Bitsy Spider. The lake is open to fishing within certain regulation and there are tennis courts, horse shoe posts and so much more. But among it all is the most beautiful scenery that I think I have ever seen in a park and numerous older structures that leave the imagination wide open!
My story started the fist time my foot hit the path that lead into that park. Since that day I have been working on the novel that brings the park to life and that I hope will one day bring others to the park with the intent of exploring it all!
Re-visiting the park yesterday was a huge help in getting me back in gear. I took a few pictures (to be uploaded on here soon), and even discovered a few new places that inspired new chapters!
I am sorry but I will not be posting any of the story on here as I do not like to reveal any of my work early and of course to protect my ideas! BUT, I hope to complete my manuscript soon and then the fun begins! Hopefully we can get it published before I "grow-up" too much! :0) Though I highly doubt that will happen completely for a really long time!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Book Ratings (in my opinion): Various New Release Titles (
I am multi-tasking here! I am going through a cart of books that are new to our library and there are quite a few books hot off the press! A few that are yet to be released to the public! I wish I had time to review them all, but at this point and time it's just not possible! So, below is a list of books and star ratings! Check them out, you never know which one could become your new favorite!
Metal Man, written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Paul Hoppe * * *
The ABC Book of American Homes, written by Shoulders/Brannen * *
Children of the U.S.A, written by Ajmera/Dennis/Pon * * *
What's the Big Idea? Four Centuries of Innovation in Boston,
written by Stephen Krensky * * *
Come Look With Me: Asian Art, written by Kimberly Lane * *
Our Three Bears, written by Ron Hirschi * * * *
Traces, written by Paula Fox and Illustrated by Karla Kuskin * * * *
The White Nights of Ramadan, written by Maha Addasi * * *
Wolfsnail, written by Sarah C. Campbell * * * *
What the World Eats, written by Faith D'Aluisio and photos
by Peter Menzel (better for much older children/adults) * * * *
Making Cents, written by Elizabeth Robinson and
illustrated by Bob McMahon * * * * *
Inside the Slidy Diner, written by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Jaine Zollars * * * *
What Does Mrs. Claus Do?, written by Kate Wharton * * * * *
Imagine a Dragon, written by Laurence Pringle * * * *
Drive, written by Nathan Clement * * * *
Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story, written by Loreen Leedy * * * * *
Corn, written by Gail Gibbons * * * *
The Dog Who Saved Santa, written by True Kelley * * * * *
Ping Pong Pig, written by Caroline Jayne Church * * * * *
Silent Letters Loud and Clear, written by Robin Pulver * *
One is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale, written by Judy Cox * * * * *
Zip, Zip...Homework, written by Nancy Poydar
Holly's Red Boots, written by Francesca Chessa * * * *
Notes:
- All rating are based off of my opinion and are no way affiliated with the author's or publisher's of the book.
- Some of these books are not yet released so they will not be available to purchase right away. However, most of them you can pre-order.
Metal Man, written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Paul Hoppe * * *
The ABC Book of American Homes, written by Shoulders/Brannen * *
Children of the U.S.A, written by Ajmera/Dennis/Pon * * *
What's the Big Idea? Four Centuries of Innovation in Boston,
written by Stephen Krensky * * *
Come Look With Me: Asian Art, written by Kimberly Lane * *
Our Three Bears, written by Ron Hirschi * * * *
Traces, written by Paula Fox and Illustrated by Karla Kuskin * * * *
The White Nights of Ramadan, written by Maha Addasi * * *
Wolfsnail, written by Sarah C. Campbell * * * *
What the World Eats, written by Faith D'Aluisio and photos
by Peter Menzel (better for much older children/adults) * * * *
Making Cents, written by Elizabeth Robinson and
illustrated by Bob McMahon * * * * *
Inside the Slidy Diner, written by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Jaine Zollars * * * *
What Does Mrs. Claus Do?, written by Kate Wharton * * * * *
Imagine a Dragon, written by Laurence Pringle * * * *
Drive, written by Nathan Clement * * * *
Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story, written by Loreen Leedy * * * * *
Corn, written by Gail Gibbons * * * *
The Dog Who Saved Santa, written by True Kelley * * * * *
Ping Pong Pig, written by Caroline Jayne Church * * * * *
Silent Letters Loud and Clear, written by Robin Pulver * *
One is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale, written by Judy Cox * * * * *
Zip, Zip...Homework, written by Nancy Poydar
Holly's Red Boots, written by Francesca Chessa * * * *
Notes:
- All rating are based off of my opinion and are no way affiliated with the author's or publisher's of the book.
- Some of these books are not yet released so they will not be available to purchase right away. However, most of them you can pre-order.
Book Review: "Punk Wig," written by Lori Ries, Ilustrated by Erin Eitter Kono
Brown and curly, blue and fluffy, green and long... these are just a few of the many wigs that the two main characters, (mother and son), of Punk Wig try on as they search for the perfect fit for "mom."
This book, written by Lori Ries and illustrated by Erin Eitter Kono, was one that I truly feel will go far! It is a very new release (2008) and is unlike any book that I have read before. The story line is one that reaches out to children who have a parent with cancer and is undergoing treatment. The mother in this book loses her hair due to the the medicine that is "zapping the alien blobs" in her head. This is what leads her and her son to take a trip to "Harriett's Hair." In the end they find the perfect wig!
I loved this book for many reasons! As a writer, I can personally say that is very hard to write about tough topics for kids. However, Ries nailed it! She uses terms that children will easily be able to relate to and understand, inserting fun in all the right places and bringing light onto a very dark and scary situation.
Furthermore, I can look on the subject through the eyes of my 12-year-old self because that is when my mother lost her hair from the Chemo treatments for breast cancer. To have had a book like this when this was going on, or to have this book available to read to my little brothers, would have been extremely nice as it truly portrays everything in the right light.
Overall, I feel this book is an amazing addition to children's literature and will help many in the years to come. Punk Wig is touching and simply phenomenal - - a must for families balancing life with children and the burden of cancer.
This book, written by Lori Ries and illustrated by Erin Eitter Kono, was one that I truly feel will go far! It is a very new release (2008) and is unlike any book that I have read before. The story line is one that reaches out to children who have a parent with cancer and is undergoing treatment. The mother in this book loses her hair due to the the medicine that is "zapping the alien blobs" in her head. This is what leads her and her son to take a trip to "Harriett's Hair." In the end they find the perfect wig!
I loved this book for many reasons! As a writer, I can personally say that is very hard to write about tough topics for kids. However, Ries nailed it! She uses terms that children will easily be able to relate to and understand, inserting fun in all the right places and bringing light onto a very dark and scary situation.
Furthermore, I can look on the subject through the eyes of my 12-year-old self because that is when my mother lost her hair from the Chemo treatments for breast cancer. To have had a book like this when this was going on, or to have this book available to read to my little brothers, would have been extremely nice as it truly portrays everything in the right light.
Overall, I feel this book is an amazing addition to children's literature and will help many in the years to come. Punk Wig is touching and simply phenomenal - - a must for families balancing life with children and the burden of cancer.
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