Today is a day of celebration in the United States of America.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, making this her 236th anniversary.
Happy Independence, Neighbour! and Happy July 4th to my friends who live across Canada‘s southern border!
(and yes, I used the Canadian spelling 😉 )
Book: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince?
Author: Melissa Kantor
Publisher: Hyperion
Date: March 27, 2007I was delighted to win this book from the author.
When you hear the title – If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince? – what do you think of? Probably the first thing that comes to mind is Cinderella. And you are not far off. The main character in this enjoyable book feels as if she is being treated like a Cinderella; even her new friends think so.
When Lucy’s mother died, leaving behind her husband and young daughter, it meant it was just the two of them for several years. Then her dad remarried and moved them to live in another city with his new wife and her two (younger-than-Lucy) daughters. Lucy was relegated to a room in the basement, a very inadequately furnished room, and her dad was hardly ever home because he was still working in the city where they had lived before Lucy’s life was turned upside down.
Lucy felt unfairly treated, being expected to do chores the other girls were not asked to do and not treated very nicely. She felt like a .. well, the way Cinderella may have felt. Then she falls for a boy and things just get more complicated.
This is a story that holds the reader’s interest, and I think especially young teen girls will like it. I found myself thinking at times, this girl is being so emotional and self-centered … like a teenage girl with the jealousy, the angry outbursts, the drama. But that simply means Melissa Kantor hit it right on. Being on the other side of all that hormonal craziness it is easy to see what should have taken place, and I kept hoping someone would see through everyone’s foolishness and set things right. (Even the stepmother was exasperating.)
I won’t tell you what happened. ** Possible spoiler alert ** What I will say is .. there is some of the normal temptation stuff, but it’s the drinking that becomes the issue for awhile. It is handled well by the author, Melissa Kantor.
This is an easy book to read, interesting and engaging, and not simply a young person’s book. Why not branch out and see what our young people are reading these days? 🙂
You can find If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince? listed on my BUY THE BOOK! page.
Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂
IT’S A PARTY!
and not just any party,
it’s …
Maybe it’s because I’m totally distracted some days in just keeping up, but I haven’t said much about what I’m doing with my writing. Here’s the scoop.
I’m not writing a book, I’m writing twelve books!
Julie Hedlund came up with an idea to write one picture book manuscript a month for all of this year. She had many story ideas after doing the Picture Book Idea Month challenge and wanted to actually use them. Then – since she felt she would be more successful if not doing it alone – she made it into a ‘community’ effort, named it 12 x 12 in 2012, and put out the invitation expecting a few dozen picture book writing hopefuls to join in. What she didn’t realize is how popular this idea would immediately become and the exciting challenge it would turn into. Boasting over 400 members (yes! over 400 for this first-time challenge), can you imagine the vast number of potential picture books being written?
Now we are at the halfway point in this writing extravaganza and it’s time for a blog party. Julie has asked us to blog about it if we want to – either celebrating or lamenting. I think I will reveal my heart and take the risk of doing both. My post will probably be different from everyone else’s but … here goes. (deep breath)
The ideas I have for stories are varied and definitely need work (most gleaned while doing PiBoIdMo), so when I began this challenge it was with the hope that I could actually pull together a few picture book manuscripts. Now that I’m a full-time part-time caregiver for a family member I have to try to keep writing when I don’t feel creative at all; some days knowing I have writing commitments is what helps keep me going.
Julie set up 12 x 12 in 2012 not only as a challenge, but as a learning experience for us. She has guest bloggers on a regular basis, each one bringing their own perspective and expertise to the writing (and illustrating) experience. Some days I’m amazed at the forward thinking and ingenious ideas that are shared. I so appreciate the generosity of the contributors in their willingness to let us in on their secrets, what works for them, what is effectively-applied common knowledge, and what not to do. To be frank, sometimes I am a little overwhelmed. But always I am inspired to keep going.
With all that, what possibly could be my lament? Well, maybe it is more of a whine. My isolation. There’s the fact of a wonderful support group that has developed and I’m mostly on the outside of it. I don’t use Facebook where the support group is set up, and I just feel weary and blah some days, and wishing for the push that talking with another writer involved in this challenge could afford me. So, since it hasn’t really got anything to do with 12 x 12, it’s my own problem and I don’t have a lament after all!
This year so far, the six months gone by, have been challenging on many levels. As for my writing accomplishments, although I have five – not six – rough drafts written (I should say rough to very rough) I still hope to get twelve ready by the end of 2012. I can’t say that I’m delighted with all of them so far, but they are not polished yet. There’s room and time and permission for improvement. Further to that, 12 x 12 in 2012 has helped me even more to explore the fun of writing and to tap deeper into my creative thinking and possibilities.
In closing, I just want to say to Julie Hedlund, thank you for reaching beyond your own aspirations and drawing others into your scope of imagination. This is a truly amazing experience. Where else can an aspiring picture book author have access to the abundance of talent and wisdom of published authors and illustrators – and for such a great deal? What better way to learn and share and meet others of like mind without having to leave home, allowing us to continue the flow of writing? And thank you to the inspiring guest bloggers – the writers and illustrators willing to be involved – the ones who have already brought so much and the ones we have yet to be fortunate to meet.
This is an exciting adventure and we’re only halfway there!
It will surely continue to be amazing.
Party on 12 x 12’ers!
Be sure to check out other 12×12 blog party posts here.
Oh, and Julie plans to do this again in 2013, so if you missed out this year or feel you’ve just begun to tap the well, you’ll have another opportunity. How great is that!
Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂
Today is my country’s birthday.
Canada became a nation on July 1, 1867, making her 145 years old today.
Happy Birthday Canada!
Today I am doing something a little different. I’m posting a second part to one of my reviews – Greet the Dawn: The Lakota Way by S. D. Nelson. Please be sure to refer to part one of my review HERE to gain a more complete appreciation of this book.
The reason I am doing part two is because I want you to get a taste of some of the astounding illustrations created by Mr. Nelson, the author of the book. After sending a request to the Marketing Director of South Dakota Historical Society Press – where this wonderful picture book was published – I received gracious permission and the illustrations I selected to post on my blog. (Thank you, Martyn Beeny!) Please visit their website HERE.
All the pages in Greet The Dawn: The Lakota Way are fully illustrated, edge to edge, in gorgeous colour.
Here are three for you to admire and … ENJOY!
You can find Greet the Dawn: The Lakota Way listed on my BUY THE BOOK! page.
Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂
Book: Greet The Dawn The Lakota Way
Author/Illustrator: S. D. Nelson
Publisher: South Dakota State Historical Society Press
Date: June 1, 2012
Genre: Children’s picture book (for ages 4-9)
Pages: 48
Price: $18.95; hardcover
My Rating: absolutely gorgeous book for all ages!
I received this book from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review.
Hardcover with matching dust jacket, this gorgeous book is wider than it is high. Every page, and I mean EVERY page, is completely illustrated. And oh my! The full-colour illustrations are astounding – bright, beautiful depictions filled with meaning and expression of the spiritual experience of living a balanced life the Lakota way.
S. D. Nelson begins with an introduction that prepares the reader for the wonder about to be discovered on the following pages. Each page is part of the story in motion – fluid, rhythmic, almost alive with the tale being shared. The reader learns a little about the Lakotas and what it is to be in harmony with all of Nature.
Some of the story is told in the beautiful Lakota language with English translation. One can almost hear the rhythm of drums and chanting voices.
Today most Lakota people live in three of the states of the USA, and in one of the provinces of Canada. I found a site you may find of interest for further information.
S. D. Nelson of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is an award-winning author and illustrator of numerous children’s books. Greet The Dawn The Lakota Way is one to treasure, which I hope you will discover for yourself as it can now be purchased here or pre-ordered (at least on Amazon).
You can find Greet The Dawn The Lakota Way on my BUY THE BOOK! page.
Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂
Book: Beyond Molasses Creek
Author: Nicole Seitz
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Date: January 31, 2012
Genre: general fiction
Pages: 312; paperback
Price: $15.99
My Rating: an intriguing story that draws the reader in
I received this book from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.
The dedication in this book reads: To those who long to be free.
This story is told from the individual voices of its three most prominent characters, Ally, Vesey, and Sunila. It begins when Ally and Vesey are children – when white children are not to be friends with black children – so theirs is a secret friendship until they are found out and Vesey pays the penalty in a volatile climate of racism. Later, Ally travelled the world over when her heart’s desire could not be attained, and now at sixty years of age she comes home to South Carolina because her father died.
The tragedies and disappointments that affected Ally’s life led to her searching for peace from “the gods”, even though she was brought up to know the true God of peace. Vesey, who lives across the river – Molasses Creek – suffered poverty and racism, but he knows Jesus Christ as his source of peace. Then there is Sunila, twenty years younger but also searching for freedom and peace in her life of hard labour in India and the racism of caste in that country. Because of an unfortunate event connected with Ally (which in real life probably would not occur – but this is fiction), her life is not what it should have been.
The author has written an intriguing tale. It took me awhile to get into the story because of how it is broken up – into short chapters that jump from one person to another – but once I caught on to this it was easier to keep track. The story gradually picks up momentum, and layer upon layer the questions that are raised are answered.
One thing that bothered me was the hinting about the Lord but the outright repetitiveness about the idols and gods of man-made religions, with not much of a decision made when it was obvious the Lord answered Ally’s heart’s cries. She thanked God but it did not seem to be much more than saying, oh, He IS real. Perhaps the reader is supposed to understand that through all of Ally’s searching God was waiting for her all along.
Another thing that bothered me – and I’m being careful to not write spoilers into this review – is that Ally told a whopper of a lie near the end of the story, which I felt was very dishonouring to her friend who was an honest man. It just seemed shockingly wrong and could only lead to more pain. It simply made no sense to not tell the truth.
If you are looking for a Christian book, Beyond Molasses Creek is not near the top of my list. But if you are looking for a different kind of fiction, this could satisfy that hunger. I will say that I was moved to tears in a few places, so it definitely was not a total letdown. The reader can get pulled into the story, and I found that once past the halfway point I wanted to skip ahead to find out some things because of what was unfolding a little too slowly for my liking. (I resisted and stayed the course, though.)
Nicole Seitz has written an emotionally charged novel that I actually enjoyed, despite the points I mentioned above. I wouldn’t mind reading more of her books.
You can find Beyond Molasses Creek listed on my BUY THE BOOK! page.
Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂
Polilla Writes 