Monday, December 24, 2012

If you have arrived in the middle of the adventure, you may start at the beginning by going HERE!


Erik chooses to search for a ford:



Erik wanted no part of that bridge.  He would not risk his pony’s life.  He turned to the left and rode downstream.



Although it was winter, the river wasn’t frozen solid, so they couldn’t cross that way. There were chunks of ice here and there, bobbing up and down in the river current like miniature icebergs. There was mud, too. Squelch, squolch, splorch went Benton’s hooves as he plodded through the muck on the riverbank.



Benton nudged Erik with his nose. He was trying to say, “Let’s go back to the bridge, this muck is not fun anymore,” but unfortunately, Erik didn’t understand Equine. 



“Hey!” Erik exclaimed, as his feet skidded in the mud. “What are you trying to...” He looked across the river. The water wasn’t so deep just where Benton had stopped. And someone was crossing the river ahead of them. Benton had found the ford! “You are one smart pony, Benton!”



Benton nodded his head and snorted. He knew he was a smart pony, even if Erik had misunderstood what he was saying. They started across the river, Benton placing his feet very carefully. This was not easy. Ponies really shouldn’t have to do this sort of thing... but with a prrrrrrr of his lips and a shake of his head, he reminded himself that it was in a good cause, helping his boy.



Just then, the wagon ahead of them lurched. The driver scrambled out and splodged through the muck on the other bank of the river, grabbed his donkey’s harness and tugged. Splooosh! He landed on his backside, while the donkey and cart just stood there.



“Oh no, Benton!” Erik exclaimed. “That cart is stuck! We have to help them!”



Benton knew it was no use arguing that they might get stuck, too, and besides, there was that problem of Erik -- bright boy though he was -- not understanding Equine. He plodged forward, his hooves getting heavier with mud at every step.



Once on the riverbank, Erik noticed all the tin cups and plates and other things hanging from hooks on the sides of the stuck wagon. The tinker! He went everywhere and knew everything! Maybe, just maybe...



Erik hitched Benton next to the tinker’s donkey, grabbed Benton’s harness to urge him forward and started tugging. Splodge, grunt, squoosh, oof, SWOOOOOOOSH! As the cart finally came loose from the mud, bits of water and muck flew everywhere. Erik and the tinker were covered in the stuff!



Spitting bits of mud out of his mouth, the tinker said, “Thank you, young fellow-mi-lad! I am forever in your debt! I will repay you if it takes every tin cup I own. Simply speak what you wish.”



Erik wiped his muddy face with an equally muddy sleeve. “All I wish is to find my birthday present. It was stolen from the box before I could even find out what it was! Someone said something about a rider on a black horse. I’ve been following clues all over the castle and now the forest.”



The tinker grinned from ear to ear. There was mud on his teeth, so it wasn’t really a pretty sight. “I believe I can help you! I saw that very rider just before I started across the river. It was a young girl with fair curly hair streaming in ringlets down her back. She was riding low on her horse, clutching something long and shining in her hand. She disappeared into the forest.”



Erik paced around rapidly, kicking up more and more mud. “Lady Josie! The young princess’s lady-in-waiting. Well, girl-in-waiting. But what would she be doing in the forest -- she belongs in the castle. And with something long and shining? Maybe that’s my present! Maybe SHE stole it! But why?” He stopped and stared at the tinker. “I must find her! Which way did she go?”



“She went thataway,” the tinker said, in the first recorded usage of that phrase in history. He pointed south. 



Erik slithered onto Benton’s back (he had to try three times, because the mud made him slide off the other side) and they headed off.



It quickly grew very dark and spooky as he rode into the forest. Benton was all for getting out of there, but he didn’t seem to have much say in the matter. Ahead of them loomed a huge, twisted tree. Benton neighed in alarm, and Erik reined him in.



There was a sign nailed haphazardly to the tree. It pointed right to “Soggybottom Swamp” and left to “Mystery Mountain”. 



“We have another choice to make, Benton,” Erik said.



Choose the Swamp and go HERE.


Choose the Mountain and go HERE.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Escucha Means Listen (Perfect Picture Book Friday)

Escucha Means Listen

Written by Talia Aikens-Nuñez Illustrations by
Dina Ashraf Helmi


Published by Musa Publishing November 2012

Suitable for ages: 2-5

Theme/topic: bilingual Spanish/English, nature, people, loving


Opening: Listen. Escucha. Listen to everything around you. Ree-aaarr! Ree-aaarr!What do you hear? La ambulancia (the ambulance) is going to help someone.

Synopsis:Escucha Means Listen helps children discover the world in Spanish and English. Just listen to the world around you. Escucha Means Listen helps children discover sounds around them in English and Spanish. Bilingual books are one of the best language learning tools you can use with children.
The sentences are short, the vocabulary is basic and the illustrations teach the words in a fun, easy to figure out way.

Activities: Take a walk and talk about the truck or the leaves and read the story with your children reinforcing the words. AT&T Natural Voices
is an excellent way to learn another language with the kidlets.  

Why I love this book: It teaches Spanish in a very kid friendly way. It's a lovely book with the most vivid illustrations I have ever seen. From the ambulance to the wind blowing. You have to buy this book for your little ones. They will absolutely love it. I promise! They will love to say the words with you in Spanish. :-)

You can buy this lovely book here.


For more wonderful picture books visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Hi everyone! As you may remember, a few weeks ago PETE the Elf had a touch too much Eggnog at the Holiday Christmas Party and as he stumbled home, he lost Santa's NICE LIST.

The North Wind scattered the papers to all four corners of the world, and The Bookshelf Muse put out a call to help find them in order to SAVE CHRISTMAS.Thank you Angela and Becca! :-)

Ever since I read about it, I've been on the lookout. And then today, EUREKA!

I found a little part of that list peeps!

I wanted to share with you four folks who keep on giving. They give all the live long day. Every day! Every year!


Sharon Mayhew This lady is my friend, crit partner, confidant, and prayer warrior. The last year has been rough as most of you know, but she's been there for me in every way. I want to thank her for all she's done. Be positive day has lifted my spirits each time we've done it over on twitter. Sharon has read my stories and offered wonderful feedback. (Even the yuck ones) Ha. She never complains about the yuck ones either. As a matter of fact she tells me the yuck ones are good. ;-) She prays for me and I pray for her. That's just how we roll. (She sent me a gift package not long ago. Boy did it lift me.) I heart you and truly love you woman! Please go and see this lovely lady if you don't already know her. And if you do know her, go and tell her she's wonderful. Okay? Merry Christmas, Sharon. Enjoy your gift that will arrive in your inbox this week. Mwah!


Next up, Lynn Kelley. This lady has prayed for me, critiqued for me, loved me and is a most lovely human being. She too has brought me through my bad times. Always there to lend a cyber ear and a real ear. (She called me on the phone when hubby fell off the roof) She's funny and loving and would give someone the shirt off her back. This woman took four chapters of my MG novel to her crit group. (I couldn't fly out to CA. Busy yanno? The kids??) *wink*   (When you gonna send me something to crit for ya?) Lynn loves me even when I'm unlovable. Bless her heart! (She sent me a gift package too.) Dang! I said I need to do the same for her. So Lynn, you will receive a gift from moi this week in your inbox. Please know I love you. You and Sharon are my besties. Mwah! (Sugar pops woman)

Next up, my mentor and pal,


Susanna Leonard Hill. (Longish name to type, uh-huh.)

She's helped me in so many ways. This woman has encouraged me, read my stories and offered valuable feedback, listened to my junk, looked at my horse pics, (she sent me a few, I sent her a ton) and chose me for a certain thing  and I got to be in on this first and I learned so much doing it and she just doesn't know what all she's done because she's just like that. *gasp* (run on sentence here) You have won a prize! Not really. But you will be getting something in your inbox this week from me. Love you encourager woman! 


One more mention. T.  (Theresa Milstein)
 She critiqued me without worry about tit for tat (I owe you. When you gonna send it??)and called me when hubby fell off the roof. She urged me on with my writing and listened to my worries. So T, look for something in your inbox this week from me. I'm heartin' you! :-)

 Thanks to these ladies for keeping my head above water. I needed that this year. Please go visit them and tell them they're BODACIOUSLY AWESOME!   

Merry Christmas ladies and to T a late Happy Hanukkah wish. 

I have a picture book review on Friday, then I'll be taking off for a couple of weeks. 

Joyeux Noel peeps. (Ivy fancies herself a french woman now.) So that's for her. 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

It's Time For the 12 x 12 End Of The Year P-a-r-t-y

*Party hardy* *happy dance* 



I completed the 12 x 12 challenge. I have written  12 picture book manuscripts this year, although some are nonsensical malarky, I tell ya. But they all have some promise, providing I can sprinkle the magic dust on 'em.  :-) And I know I can. :-)



This is the end of the year blowout party. 

Boom chuca, boom chuca, chuca, boom chuca, boom chuca, chuca! (Like that? Well I am an accomplished rapper now.)

When I first signed up, I wondered if I had what it takes. You know. THE stuff. THE STUFF it takes to write one every month. Discipline=YIKES! But I met up with some cool peeps and they said I had THE STUFF to write a new draft every month. *whew*  

The first story I wrote last January has already been revised and is my favorite one. It is almost ready to face the world.  So 12 x 12 has been very good to me. I think of it as my writerly mama. So I love you 12 x 12 and a supercalafragalisticexpealadocious hug for the mommy of all 12 x 12'ers, Julie Hedlund.  I love you Mommy. *wink*

Monday, December 10, 2012

Alex Cavanaugh! This Is Your Life!!!!! :-)

Psyche! ;-)

Okay really. I signed up for the blogfest like 100,101,240,20 times, but linky no likey. He would not take let me sign up. *deep sigh* So the hosts of this blogfest defied stinky Linky and signed me up. Thanks to Mark Koopman! (And thanks to THE man, Alex Cavanaugh for alerting him to this horrible travesty.) Take that Linky! Bwa ha ha ha!

It's time for the "Cheers, Cavanaugh BlogFest." Uh-huh! This blogfest is brought to you by Mark “The Madman” Koopman, ”Marvelous” Morgan Shamy, Stephen “Breakthrough” Tremp, and David “Kingpin” Powers King.

All VERY cool peeps. *waves peace sign*

Now I must answer their very curious questions. Ready?? 

1.  In +/- 20 words, what does Alex look like?
Hmmmmmmmm. Did they say in +/- 20 words? Minus?? *finger thump* *bangs head* *flicks pencil on desk* *turns on music* *dances around the room* (But not on the desk)
Dark hair, super mysterious, smiles a lot, very positive #bepositive, tall, and incredibly musical. (I can hear that new guitar strumming right now). Twenty-two words, discarding my gobblygook)

2.   In +/- 20 words, who could play Alex in a documentary? (Living or dead.)*ahem* Did you say dead?? And did you say documentary?? On Alex??:-) 
 Okay. How'z about sci-fi author Harry Harrison?? (In his younger days, that is) Eh?? He would have done documentaries. Right?? And he was almost as cool as Alex. Bill, the Galactic Hero was CLASSIC! (thirty-four words excluding my drivel)

3.  In +/- 20 words, who does Alex remind you of?  
(This minus thing is gettin' to me.) He reminds me of a Ninja captain who puts out super de duper sci-fi stories, and is the coolest among the cool, of course.:-) Twenty-four words (plus my nonsense)

4.  In +/- 100 words, (excluding the title) write flash fiction using all these prompts:

Cavanaugh
Ninja
IWSG
Cosbolt
Guitar


My flash fiction is a rap song.(Please don't think about me doing the rap to this song.) No. Really. Don't.
Going for a Grammy award here:

THE ALEX RAP (Make the Beat-Box music with your mouth and sing along with)


 Ah one two, ah one two

That Captain Ninja dude,
his guitar speaks a song.
hear what he has brewed,
come on, I'll bring you along
He makes his Cosbolt purr
that man called Cavanaugh
my head is all a blur,
he's gotta be an outlaw
making music like that
for his IWSG peeps
he's a swingin' wildcat
they love him heaps and heaps.


 For Bonus Points:
In +/- 40 words, leave a comment for Mrs. Cavanaugh - thanking her for sharing. 


The most fantastical thank you among thank yous, to the ravishing Lady C for sharing your writer hubby with all of us. He's awesome and I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that. Do tell him to put your feet up every night for this entire week. Cause you're awesome and you deserve it. :-) (53 words) 

CUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did I get the Grammy? Who is Alex anyway? *wink*

Thanks for the opportunity Alex. It's truly an honor. You are always helping out so many of our peeps. You are a most cool writer pal and an awesome sci-fi author to boot! And to linky I say, "Pshaw!"

Go visit more Alex, This Is Your Life stuff here. 

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Here's a Reminder For Ya



Today, December 6th is #bepositive Day over at Twitter. This is Ivy and Frodo. He's very positive. Even though he only has one eye. (He was abused as a puppy. We rescued him. Now he's our baby) :-)

Tweet encouraging thoughts all the live long day using the hashtag #bepositive. Retweet all the positive tweets you can get your hands on. I hope to see you there.

You are a gift to this world. #bepositive :-)

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

FREE PICTURE BOOK EDIT GIVEAWAY!!!

THE (and I mean THE) Editor is going to give away a free (and I mean FREE) picture book edit. Contest ends tonight. HURRY PEEPS! HOP TO IT!!! Here's the linkage: Dear Editor.

*jumps away from stampede* :-)

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Let's Be Positive!



Have you heard?? (Be positive like Ivy here. She's tall, but Saber is taller. Just look at her jumping horse! She could fall off of him. It'd be like falling off the Empire State Building. Well, not that high, but you get my drift. 

(Don't be like this bunch. Thinking of their school work.) Bwa ha ha ha!






December 6th, 2012  is National Be Positive Day!!!!!!! The ultra- talented and most lovely, Sharon Mayhew coined the holiday. (Ain't she cool?) She and I figured a little positivity can't hurt, so this Thursday if you're on twitter, will you join us? Purty please?! At least one time that day say something positive followed by the hashtag #bepositive. Then when the day is done, go and follow the wonderful folks who joined the party and do a few retweets to encourage others on twitter.

You are special!!#bepositive

Success is failure turned inside out#be positive

Please say you'll come and join us, Thursday December 6th.