Trailer for Return of the Schmurthies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeQaGehC0m0

Book Trailer for Secret of Bombastic Bertha and the Bamboozles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmgXdTiaZVw

Junior Fiction Series Now Available Exclusively on Amazon

My junior fiction series, "Secret Worlds" is now available exclusively on Amazon.com in ebook format. Secret of Bombastic Bertha and the Bamboozles and Return of the Schmurthies are great reads for youngsters ages 8-11.

Intelligence is Imagination, Not Knowledge

The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.

~ Albert Einstein

A Creative Way to Explore Music

Kids love to make noise...er, music. A fun summer activity is to make your own musical instruments and experiment with rhythm and music.

There are YouTube videos and websites out there on how to make instruments. Here's a pdf file that gives directions, based on actual types of instruments (woodwind, string, brass, etc.): https://www.atlantasymphony.org/aso/asoassets/downloadcenter/Symphony%20Street%20Activity%20Sheets.pdf

Carve Out Time to Write

It's not always easy to find a large block of time to write. Sometimes we must be satisfied with a few minutes here and there.

I have found that there is time during a substitute teacher's day to get a little writing in--while students are taking a test or are at a specialty class, or during the teacher's prep period.

Utilizing these little blocks of time works well for some aspects of the writing process, but not all.

I Love to Read

Sometimes when I substitute teach, I play a little game with the students. I have them write down three things about themselves that they don't think anyone in the class knows about them. Then I read the clues and the class tries to guess who the person is. I did this with a third grade class this week. I was delighted that upon reading the clues for several of the students that they had all written: I love to read. Wonderful!

Enjoying Music from Other Lands

Music is enjoyed by people on every continent. Here's a great website that introduces children to music around the world:

http://www.dariamusic.com

Learn about music and songs from other cultures. Discover how to make our own instruments. A fun, creative website to explore.

Learning to Play Musical Instruments

Last week I subbed in a sixth-grade class that attended a school assembly given by a local junior high band and orchestra. The students loved it. At one point the band leader asked for a raise of hands of those in the band who hadn't had prior experience with a band instrument prior to junior high. Most raised their hands.

It brought me back to my junior high band years. Playing in the band was one of the few high points of my junior high career. So many wonderful, memorable experiences! I played the clarinet and later the bassoon and oboe. I had opportunities to play in small ensembles as well as symphony orchestras and everything in between.

I highly recommend that youngsters consider taking up an instrument--any kind of instrument. It can enhance their creativity. And it's a lot of fun!

Itching to Write

I do a lot of substitute teaching. There just isn't a lot of time to write right now.

The other day I was teaching sixth grade. The read-aloud book as Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull. I had, of course, heard of this novel but had never read it. I had some free time during the school day and picked the book up and was instantly drawn into the story.

Not only that, but as I immersed myself in the book, I started salivating with creative juices. I felt myself itching to work on my newest junior fiction book. I can't wait for spring break when I can hopefully get back to work on the third of my Secret Worlds books.

Painting the World

I am a Webelo scout leader. We've been working on the Artist award, and one of the assignments was to draw or paint something outside. I took the boys outside and talked to them a little about plein air art. We talked about how to measure relationships in distance using a pencil. I told them that when you are out in nature, you look around you and you want to paint or draw everything. You feel overwhelmed. It is important, therefore, to pin down what you want to focus on. Zero in on something.

I was interested in what the boys chose to draw. One drew an intricate drawing of the trailer parked in the driveway next door. The details he added even included the bolts. Another boy drew the telephone pole across the street.

Plein air art is amazing. It brings out individuality in a remarkable way.

Happy Birthday to Me

Today is my birthday. The first thing I did when I woke up was say my morning prayer...which has actually continued throughout the day. It is a prayer of thanks--all thanks, no asking, today. It's been a good life--not always easy, but good. I've been thinking of the specific things for which I am grateful.

I thank my Heavenly Father for books, for the ability to read. Think about the impact that the ability to read has had in your life! What an amazing miracle.

I thank my Heavenly Father for imagination, creativity, the ability to explore worlds of my own creation, the ability to look at life in different ways.

Love of Books

There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.

–Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

I love it when I see a child totally immersed in a book.

Happy Hooligans

http://happyhooligans.ca/

Here's a fun website for helping children develop creativity.

Creative Ways of Saying I Love You

50 ways to please your lover

Everyday ways to say "I love you."

By Stacey Donovan

You don’t need to wait for a special occasion to remind that certain someone how much he or she is loved. Spice up your relationship with these sweet (and simple) everyday ways to say "I love you." (Most of the “for him” ideas could work for a woman, too, and vice versa.)

1. Go a whole week without saying anything negative or critical—and pay compliments at every opportunity. 

2. Make her an old-fashioned mixtape. OK, not a tape, but a mix-CD or a playlist. 

3. Buy him that video game/power tool/whatever that he was talking about the other week. Wrap it up with a bow!

4. Ask for a coin to toss in a fountain. Then say, “Actually, never mind, my wish already came true—I have you!”

5. Offer to bring him a cup of coffee or a beer.

6. Talk about her right in front of her: Tell other people why she’s so amazing.

7. Impromptu foot rub! Ahhh.

8. Kiss her hand.

9. Break up the usual weekday routine with a breakfast or lunch date.

10. Tuck a package of her favorite candy into her purse. Tape a note to it that says you love her.

11. Take a bubble bath with candles everywhere, and ask him to scrub your back.

12. Around Valentine’s Day, buy a whole bunch of valentines. Give them to her at random times throughout the year.

13. Get him tickets to a concert or event he’ll really enjoy.

14. If she has her own place but stays over sometimes, clear out a dresser drawer for her to use. Stock it with a few essentials, such as toiletries, a makeup item she uses regularly or extra socks and underwear in her size.

15. Make him laugh: Learn some jokes and tell them to him. Corny is good!

16. Give her samples of five different perfumes to try. If she loves one of them, buy her a bottle.

17. Watch “his” show or the big game with him, even if you couldn’t care less. Avoid saying anything annoying about it.

18. Do one of “her” jobs around the house. Or, if you’ve been slacking, just do your jobs around the house!

19. Hire a maid service to give the place a thorough cleaning while your significant other is away.

20. Treat yourself to lingerie or pajamas that make you feel pretty. He’ll probably like it, too.

21. Put on a suit and tie for a date. She’ll probably dig it.

22. Give something homemade, like a loaf of bread or a knitted hat.

23. If he cooks or bakes a lot, draw smiley faces and “I love you” messages on the eggs with a Sharpie.

24. Put a bag in the trunk with a white tablecloth, fancy candlesticks, candles and matches. The next time you go into a fast-food restaurant together, transform your table into a classy, romantic setting!

25. Do something to improve your appearance. It doesn’t have to be drastic: Use a tooth whitener, work off a few extra pounds, or take a little more care with your hair or makeup.

26. Send him a sexy text in the middle of the day.

27. That thing you’ve nagged her about forever? Give up and let it go.

28. That thing she’s nagged you about forever? Change it, for good.

29. When you go to the grocery store, remember to pick up the things that she likes, even if you don’t eat them.

30. If he works in a boring cubicle, help him decorate it—or get him something for his desktop that will make him smile.

31. Put a little gift in a toy treasure chest (you can find them at party supply stores), and hide it in the house. Leave a trail of clues.

32. Bake him a heart-shaped pizza.

33. Clean out and vacuum her car on Sunday night for a pleasanter Monday morning commute.

34. Give him a robe and slippers on Friday night to welcome him to the weekend.

35. Sing a romantic song to her at a karaoke bar. You don’t even have to be on key.

36. Do a striptease for him. You don’t even have to be a good dancer.

37. Invite her on a classy date—maybe to an art museum, a jazz club or a wine tasting.

38. Invite him on a silly date, like mini golf, a monster truck rally or a Renaissance festival.

39. Get away from it all without getting away: Invite him to spend a night with you at a hotel or bed-and-breakfast in town.

40. Create a beach-vacation vibe in your bedroom with tropical drinks on the nightstand, coconut-scented candles and a recording of waves and seagulls.

41. Scatter fresh rose petals on the bed.

42. If he’s taking a business trip, hide a little gift or treat in his suitcase.

43. When you see him or her at the end of the day, say, “How’s my handsome husband?” or “How’s my beautiful wife?” (Or boyfriend or girlfriend—whatever’s appropriate!)

44. Stay in bed together all Saturday. Watch movies. Talk. Eat snacks. Do other things.

45. Learn how to say “I love you” in a foreign language.

46. Bring her flowers. Clichéd? Sure, but when was the last time you actually did it?

47. Blow him a kiss.

48. Open the car door for her.

49. Buy a package of fortune cookies, extract the ordinary fortune from a cookie with tweezers, and replace it with a rolled-up romantic fortune. (You will probably break a few cookies before you get it right.) Give it to her after going out for Chinese.

50. Place a small ad in the personals section telling him how glad you are that you found him.

Stacey Donovan has been a writer and editor at Hallmark for more than 20 years. She also writes romance novels (under a pseudonym), and has collected a wealth of obscure knowledge in the process.

http://www.hallmark.com/love/ideas/ways-to-say-I-love-you/

Should Writing be a Punishment? No!

I subbed in a class recently in which one of the punishments was to write a certain sentence over and over...I don't remember how many times.

I really disagree with such a punishment. It makes writing an unpleasant thing, something to be avoided.

Surely there are other ways to discipline.

Lessons Learned from the Mouse

While subbing one day I discovered this wonderful book, Lessons Learned from the Mouse, written by Dennis Snow, who worked for many years at Disney World. He shares some of the secrets to what makes Disney World and Disneyland such magical and happy places. Have you ever seen any grouchy employees at these places? Nope. Here are some of the things that are emphasized to their employees--lessons that can be applied in any job:

1. Never let backstage come onstage.
2. There are no stupid questions--ask what's behind the question.
3. Little wows add up.
4. Have fun with your job--no matter how miserable you feel.
5. Don't be a customer service robot.
6. Pay attention to details.
7. Never ever say "That's not my job"--don't even think it.
8. Everyone has a customer--treat employees that way you would have customers be treated.
9. What ticks off customers?--then do something about it.
10. Take responsibility for your own career.

I really recommend this book. It offers some creative ways of enhancing your job.

http://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Mouse-Applying-Secrets-Organization-ebook/dp/B008YHUC8G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422567169&sr=8-1&keywords=lessons+learned+from+the+mouse

Dreaming Up Ideas

The other morning, just before I awoke, I had a fun dream. As the dream's plot unfolded, I remember thinking (in my dream) that it would make a great story, that I would have to remember the plot. I proceeded to wake up so that I wouldn't forget the storyline.

As it turned out, once I was fully awake, the dream wasn't all that great but I did get some ideas for a book that I just may right.

Ideas come from many sources.

Thinking What No One Else Has Thought

Creativity is seeing what everyone else has seen, and thinking what no one else has thought.

~ Albert Einstein

Where Do Ideas Come?

Writers are sometimes asked, "Where do you get your ideas for your stories?" Ideas come from a pazillion places. If you pay attention during your day to day life, you'll meet up with dozens of them. Some come from snippets of conversation you overhear. Some come from encountering a total stranger in the checkout line. Ideas can come from life experiences, dreams, feelings, and things you read. They can even come from a statement you read on the back of the cereal box.

Keeping a little notebook handy to write down these fleeting ideas is a wise thing to do. If not written down, many a great idea vanishes into thin air within an astonishing short period of time.

Hooks and Leads

I subbed in a sixth grade class yesterday. The writing assignment was on argumentative introductions. The students were to pick a topic sentence and then to write six introductory sentences, one for each of six types:

1. Question
2. Anecdote
3. Strong statement
4. Statistic or fact
5. Unusual detail
I can't remember the sixth.

Some students struggled with coming up with a topic sentence; they would just write down a topic, like bullying, instead of a sentence like: Bullying is a major problem in schools today. Then to come up with different leads for that statement took some quite a long time.

I told them that as a newspaper and magazine journalist, hooks or leads are very important. They're perhaps that hardest part of the article to write, in many cases. If we want someone to read what we've written, however, we have to lure them in with an intriguing hook.

Two Secret Worlds Books Available

I'm delighted to announce that the first two of my Secret Worlds Books are now available on I Book Store, Amazon, Google Books and Kobo. They will soon be available on Nook. Junior readers, ages 8 to 11, will be delighted with Secret of Bombastic Bertha and the Bamboozles and Return of the Schmurthies. The fast-paced stories are packed with adventure, fun, humor and mystery.