Storyteller's Journey

Free Public Domain Photo

Unexpected Research

I spent a considerable amount of time during the summer of 2011 researching the British Prime Minister - Winston Churchill. He is featured in a small, but significant role in my middle grade work in progress. The biographies I read were time consuming - sort of like reading your high school world history textbook! While I do not consider myself an expert on the historic politician, I do feel I have enough of an education on Churchill to be accurate in the context of my story.

Earlier this month I finally found the time to read a book I've been anticipating - Prague Winter, by Madeleine Albright. Ms. Albright is a woman I have long admired. While I knew her memoir included the World War II period, I never imagined there would be so much information about Winston Churchill! I didn't learn any information that will change my story; but it did give me a deeper understanding of Churchill's character. It was a great reminder to me that reading from a variety of genres is not only healthy, it can be helpful.

 

What type of books do you read outside the genre you write in?

 

Whimsical Word of the Week

Monomania -

obession with one idea or interest.

Example: Getting her book published had become a monomania for the aspiring author.

Bibliophile's Corner

Three Times Lucky
by Sheila Turnage

Flap Copy Description:
Meet Miss Moses LoBeau -
rising sixth grader, natural born detective, borderline straight-A student, and goddess of free enterprise. Mo washed ashore in Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, eleven years ago during one of the meanest hurricanes in history, and she's been making waves ever since.

Mo's summer is looking good. She'll take karate with her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III (whose daddy believes in naming for the famous), and plot against her sworn enemy, Anna Celeste (aka Attila). She'll help out at the cafe run by the Colonel and Miss Lana, and continue her lifelong search for her Upstream Mother.

But when the cafe's crankiest customer turns up dead and a city-slick lawman shows up asking questions, Mo's summer takes an unexpected turn. With another hurricane bearing down on Tupelo Landing, Mo and Dale set out to save those they love and solve a mystery of epic proportions.

My Thoughts:
Although Ms. Turnage has been previously published, this is her debut middle grade novel. What a beginning: Three Times Lucky is a 2013 Newbery Honor book! This exciting, entertaining, and well-written novel displays, without doubt, the storytelling skills of Sheila Turnage. The author's voice, humor, and complex plot come together in a unique blend, making this novel truly special. Three Times Lucky is also a great book for both boys and girls, since the female protagonist (Mo) has a constant companion (Dale) - an insecure, but kind-hearted male best friend. However, the story is not just a feel good tale since life issues of family, friendship, hope, and love are all woven throughout this complex novel. I would highly recommend Three Times Lucky to readers from the ages of eight to eighty!

Storyteller's Journey

Free Public Domain Cartoon

Extraordinary Emotions!

There are only so many ways a writer can show her characters expressing happiness, anger, love, curiosity, disappointment...well, you get the idea.

While revising my middle grade WIP, I have attempted to be more creative in my word choices with regard to my characters' emotions.

The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Expression, by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi has proven to be of immense value when tackling this challenge. The authors host The Bookshelf Muse, an award-winning online resource for writers, and they are both members of the SCBWI. If you have not yet purchased a copy of this valuable guide, I would highly recommend it. It helped open my eyes to new ways of revealing my characters!

What reference books do you use in your descriptive writing efforts?

Whimsical Word of the Week

Walla-walla -

the unintelligible sound made by many people talking at once.

Example: A walla-walla arose from the excited stockbrokers on Wall Street.

Bibliophile's Corner

May B.
by Caroline Starr Rose

Flap Copy Description:
I watch the wagon
until I see nothing on the open plain.
For the first time ever,
I am alone.

May is helping out on a neighbor's homestead - just until Christmas, her pa promises. But when a terrible turn of events leaves her all alone, she must try to find food and fuel - and courage - to make it through the approaching winter.

My Thoughts:
This novel in verse by Caroline Starr Rose has a number of elements to admire: character development, setting descriptions, and a lovely rhythm to the writing. While I have not always been a huge fan of stories set on the prairie, this little book is well worth the read. The author was wise to write it in verse: that's what made it a winner for me. I would highly recommend May B. to female readers from the ages of eight to twelve.

To learn more about the author, Caroline Starr Rose, click here: http://www.carolinestarrrose.com/Caroline_Starr_Rose/Bio.html

Storyteller's Journey

The Grand Canyon

   Recent Tidbits

We returned from our trip to Arizona after having a wonderful time with my family; we had also visited Sedona and the Grand Canyon. The snow at the World Heritage Site made the setting even more beautiful.

The bad news is that I picked up a sinus infection/flu just before we departed Arizona. (The plane trip home was not one I would want to repeat!) Evidently this awful illness is going around and takes some time to run its course. I'm still taking all kinds of pills to battle the annoying symptoms.

I have been spending my time this week (in between resting & sneezing) catching up on laundry, paying bills, reading, and of course, writing. Next week's post will be writing related - I promise!

On a brighter note: Our son - Brian, was just awarded First Place (co-winner) in a Regional Choral Composition Competition. His piece will be performed by the Seattle based group, Opus 7, on Saturday, May 11th, at St. Mark's Cathedral in downtown Seattle. Since the competition takes in college students from six states this is quite a big deal. Needless to say, we are so proud of him!

Lastly...you may remember me posting about my "Dog Dilemma" several months ago: after traveling more than usual in the last few months, I have conceded to my husband that it's probably not the best time to acquire a dog right now. However...while viewing a trio of programs on elephants that aired on PBS earlier this week, I took the plunge and am now sponsoring an orphaned elephant in Nairobi, Kenya.

Here is the lovely Lima Lima (Lindstrom) whom we adopted only two days ago! She was rescued on February 20th, 2013 after her mother was killed by poachers for her ivory tusks.

There are many other baby elephants that need assistance in the wake of the out of control poaching problem that is taking place in many countries of Africa. If you would like to adopt/sponsor an elephant, rhino, zebra, or other animal, here is the link to the David Sheldrick Trust in Nairobi, Kenya: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/about_us.asp

When my husband saw me sitting at my computer with a credit card in hand he knew he was in trouble. When I told him, "I just adopted a baby elephant!" he rolled his eyes and smiled. We always wanted a baby girl.

Care to share what's been going on in your neck of the woods?