A NEW WORLD RECORD! (Maybe????)

Summer is coming to a close in NE Iowa...Temperatures are dropping and the wind is picking up.  Yesterday my lovely daughter and I took Macy for a two mile stroll. Geese were flying over our heads and pine cones were falling from treetops on to the walking trail beneath our feet.  Along the way we played kick the cone (our  version of kick the can) for 1.2 miles which must be a world record.  The trail we were on follows alongside a road.  Cars drove beside us.  People waved and smiled.  I wondered what they were thinking.  Where they thinking about their youth? Their children? Their parents? or where they just hoping we didn't kick our pine cone out in the street and run after it?

What free, fun, outside activities do you like to do this time of year?  

Don't forget to go to Amy's blog launch party on Wednesday! (P.S. THE IRON BODKIN is now available on Amazon.com and for you Kindle folks, you can get it here!)

I'm Not Bragging....But I Was A Beta Reader On This One...

 I have some exciting news to share with you!  One of my critique buddies is launching her first book!  Amy Allgeyer Cook (of The Wad) released THE IRON BODKIN today at Createspace.  Amy has been sharing her ups and downs  (from winning a contest with her manuscript until publication) on her blog.   Heidi  Schmidt (also of The Wad) did the gorgeous cover!  If you look carefully you can see a child hidden in the cover. 

If you are a Harry Potter fan or like magical worlds with surprising twists you will love this mid grade novel....and I should know.  I was lucky enough to be one of Amy's Beta Readers.  :)  It's available right now on Createspace  and will be available on amazon soon.  Amy is going to have a "blog" launch party on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Make sure you hop over and join in on the celebration....

Knowing Current Trends In..... The School Yard

When is an elephant not an elephant?  

When is a butterfly not a butterfly?

When it's a silly band...

Have you seen silly bands?  Have you bought any?  Better yet, have you traded any?  Today K and I went to a friend's house after school and traded silly bands.  :)    They had a big bowl of them...

Silly bands come in all shapes, sizes and colors.  We took zoo animals (because we just went to the zoo) and glow in the dark "things" (because we are cool like that).  S and S traded (really cool) fast food and (pretty) fruit silly bands with us. 

You might be wondering what you do with silly bands (other than trade them) ...Just sit back and watch the magic of silly bands...

We're still not sure what the red shaped silly band is.  It came with the fast food silly bands.  (Any guesses?)

The reasoning behind today's post is this...you need to know what kids are doing today.  What's hot and what's not...Find kids that are in your target age group and befriend them, learn from them, observe them...Have fun with them...We had a great time with S and S and the silly bands.  (Thanks girls! They are going to do something special for a post next month.  Cool, huh!)

BTW, I gave several of you extensions on IBKTY week....I'm expecting reports from you.  Did you remember to treat yourself the way you treat others???  I hope so....

We found one other use for silly bands...

How would you use them? 

Be creative!

Need Some Good Luck???

Guess what I found?  I found some good luck...To some people this might just look like a regular old penny laying on the ground, but this is a found penny and found pennies bring good luck. (After all, it's free money!)

 Why is it  some people find more lucky pennies than other people do?  I have a theory...They are looking for them.  My advice is this...If you want more lucky pennies, you have to work for them: pound the pavement, send out queries, use social and professional networks, join professional organizations....reach out and find as many pennies as you can.  The more lucky pennies you find, the better your chances for success...

If you found a MAGIC COIN (which is different than a lucky penny), and you were allowed one wish (and you can't wish for more wishes...that rule's for you Amy) what would you wish for?

DON'T BELIEVE THE BAD STUFF!

(St. Paul's Cathedral in Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

It's easier to believe the bad stuff...I don't know where I heard that line, perhaps  it was in a movie or in a book and I believe it's true.  We do it all the time.  We do it to ourselves.  That's why I invented International Be Kind To Yourself Week.  I promise I'll get off my soap box... (for a while) If you'll do this:

1. Give yourself permission to enjoy simple pleasures without feeling guilty.
2. Say kind things to and about yourself.
3. Believe that you are worthy of happiness, love, and success in all areas of your life.

DEAL??????

(One big fishing lure...or art, perhaps...)

I gave a few of you extensions on IBKTY week...so I'll be expecting reports next Friday. 

I have a blogging question for you:  I absolutely love replying to your comments though emails.  Do you like it?  What about those of you who don't have it set up on your blogger profile, do you come back and see if I left a response to your comment? What do you like best as a blog reader?  What do you do as a blog writer?

Don't forget to show yourself some love this week.....

Follow up on I.B.K.T.Y. WEEK

 What did you do for International Be Kind To Yourself Week?  I want a full report...

I went to Minneapolis, Minnesota for three days.  It was lovely!  We did some of my favorite things...We ate at Chevy's Tex-Mex our first night.  (YUM!)  We got up early and went to the Minnesota Zoo.

This is Seymour, their male dolphin. He was born in the wild.  They have a one month old baby, but she was in the back pool and we couldn't get a good picture of her or her Mum.

There were lots of prairie dogs.  The guide said they didn't know how many there are as they can make tunnels up to thirty feet deep  and they have tunnelled all over the zoo.  (My husband reminded me there were other animals in the park, after I took about 25 photographs of them...they are sooo cute!)

This has to be the funniest sight I have EVER seen at any zoo (and I've been to a lot of zoos...)  Just in case you are wondering, those are camels.

After the zoo we went to The Walker Arts Center and saw some art, both modern and traditional.

Then we walked through a sculpture garden.

What trip to Minneapolis would be complete without a trip to the Mall of The Americas?  So we hit the mall for a few hours of shopping.  I don't have photos.  LOL!  But, I now have new dishes.  My hubby has been complaining for ten years about our artsy dishes...so now we have new ones.  (Black on the outside and white on the inside.)

Then we went to a science museum on the bank of the Mississippi River. We saw an awesome exhibit on the Dead Sea Scrolls!

They had a real tugboat in the exhibit.  It was on the roof, but you entered it through the building...

So, What did you do for International Be Kind To Yourself Week?  Do you need an extension?  If you do let me know....I'm the founder of the movement, so I can grant you one.  :)

PS: Marcia Hoehne, ICL instructor, is doing a critique give-away....You might want to hop over and sign up ASAP!

INTERNATIONAL BE KIND TO YOURSELF WEEK BEGINS ON 8/13

I declare it INTERNATIONAL BE KIND TO YOURSELF WEEK!

 For the next SEVEN days...I want you to be kind to yourself.

 

Get a manicure...

Get a pedicure...

Drink some fancy water...

Buy some new shoes...(It's the perfect time. Lots of them are on clearance right now.)

This summer was rather stressful for our family; the hail storm, Stripes died, and the basement flooded twice.  I'm a pretty practical person, but yesterday I did something very luxurious.  I went to Elements and got a therapeutic massage.  

In all honesty, I hope that you WILL do something kind to yourself this week.  I'm taking the entire week away from posting so I can catch up on blog reading and to get ready for SCBWI-KC.  I feel like I've been neglecting some of my blog friends and missing out on a lot of great posts.  

Next Friday, I'll put up a post asking  what you did during INTERNATIONAL BE KIND TO YOURSELF WEEK, so be prepared to report back to me...

A Desperate Plea...

Yesterday my daughter and I took a shopping trip to our "old" mall and visited with a bunch of "old" friends.  On the way to lunch and the mall we saw this desperate plea in someones back yard...Although it looks small (cause it's a photograph) that's a larger than life size cow!  (I had to loop around a couple times to find a spot to park on the side of the road. Then walked about a quarter mile so I could take this photo, but it was sooo worth it!) So If this is your back yard and you really want to be my facebook friend.  I'll friend you.  

In other news...Lenny did an awesome job critiquing my picture book, A CAKE I WILL BAKE!  I sure appreciated his help.  His big brother offered some advice too, which was awful sweet.  (Lenny, I just moved you to the critique buddy section on my side bar!)

Have you seen anything on the side of the road that made you stop and take a picture?  I hope so, it sure makes life more interesting...and it can be great for character development.

WHO DO YOU SHARE WITH?

Who do you share your work with? Who are your readers?  Do you limit yourself to your critique buddies?  Have you found some Beta Readers via your blog?   My daughter is my first reader, then my critique buddies  (listed on the my side bar) are next.   Once I get my critiques back (usually about 4 or 5 people are available to critique)  I make revisions and start the process again.  I haven't  shared my work with very many people.   Today I got an exciting email from my sweet blog friend Lenny.  He said he would like to read A CAKE I WILL BAKE  before I go to the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) next month.  :)  HUGS to Lenny!!!

What about you?  Who do you share your work with? Do you share it with non-writing friends?  You know...readers?

(This is Bill.  Bill is a reader.)

We took some new Iowa friends to the lake with us on our last trip.  We swam, ate, played games, tubed, skied, watched movies and read.  Yep, that's right we read.  Nothing says friends like walking in a room and everyone has a book or a kindle or an ipad in front of them and they are reading.  :)   

We talked about books and ebooks.  They have a kindle and an ipad!  We have books, lots of books.  I bit the bullet and asked Bill if he would be interested in reading one of my picture book stories.  He said sure.  Then he got real serious.  "I read for two purposes," he says. "To be entertained or to improve myself or myself at work.  I'm not easy to impress."  "No worries," I say.  "I want honest feedback."  (Holy cow, this guy is going to make me run and hide in the closet!) I hand him my computer and walk in the kitchen to do the dishes.

Then he said those magical words.  "I liked it.  I really liked it.  I could feel the emotion in the characters.  I could feel the anxiety in the two little girls...their fear."  (I was so relieved!) Then he teared up and continued to tell me how he could feel the story deep inside him.

I thanked him and had to walk away.  I was in tears.  I'm still overwhelmed that my words gave someone this reaction.  (smile)

Letting someone new read my words was scary...

I have a challenge for you...Let someone new read a piece  or a segment of your work.

DON'T BE JEALOUS...

Many of you already know my friend Susan Fields.  We used to be neighbors.  Wednesday was her birthday.  My daughter and I drove down to see her and to celebrate with her and her family.  We had a BLAST!  She let me read KILLING KESSLER...It was Awesome!  (All lurking agents need to take note  and check out Susan's blog!)  If you haven't "met" Susan yet, please hop over and meet her.  She's a brilliant writer and WAY more focused than me.  (wink)

Have you made time this summer for your friends?  If you haven't, you should...It's good for your mental health! 

Have an awesome weekend!

My Turn To Answer Jackee's Questions...

I'm so glad Jackee came up with the idea of us answering each others questions. It was so hard to not comment on her blog for almost three weeks!

So here are my answers to Jackee's questions...

1. What’s more important to you, shoes or food? Shoes, for sure...How can you go and buy the food without shoes???

2. Are you a lister or a Post-it all over the office type? I'm an obsessive lister and crosser offer!
3. If you could choose your own last name, what would it be? Sheen (Umm, I'm not telling why.)
4. MG Fantasy or YA Sci-fi? MG HF or anything PB
5. Like life sweet or salty? Salty for sure...cheesy is even better!
6. A picture or a word person? Too hard to answer!  I love pictures and art of almost any form and the same goes with words...I'll read almost anything!
7 If your life was an open notebook, what would the headline read? The headline would have to be the dedication page...My first book will be dedicated to my Grandparents.  They mean so much to me.  Both of them are wonderful story tellers...
8. At home do you like to go barefoot, slippered, socked, or shoed? Socked.  My daughter makes fun of me because I have car socks.  I love wearing sandals, but I'll wear socks when I'm in the car and take them off when I get out of the car.
9. You’ve heard it said everything you need to know you learn in Kindergarten? Name one of those things. I didn't go to Kindergarten...(which might explain a few things...)
10. What’s your favorite cookie? chocolate chip
11. What is the wildest thing you’ve ever done? I flew in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon!
12. What is one of your favorite smells? Channel No. 5 is my favorite smell!
13. What is an interesting bedtime ritual you have? I have to get all of my pillows in the exact right spots before I can rest...
14. What is an interesting morning ritual you have? I take Macy out first thing in the morning, so all of the neighbors have seen me in my pj's...
15. Have you ever known a “one-upper” and if so, what was it they did/said? I'm a bit worried that I might be one...I usually have a story for most circumstance.
16. Favorite meal of the day? Breakfast!
17. What is your biggest pet peeve, the thing that can heat you up so fast you’ll pop your hull? I don't like laziness or people who take advantage of others.
18. If you were king/queen of the world, what would be the first thing on your “To Do” clipboard? First, I would provide world health, not health insurance...perfect health for everyone!  Second, I'd end all violence in the world. Third, I'd give book deals to all my writing buddies....(Yeah I know I was just supposed to do one...)
19. Favorite breakfast food? Vegetarian sausage
21. What’s your favorite magazine? Highlights For Kids
22. How often do you wash your hair? Let's just say I'm better than Robert Patterson...

Jackee had a couple extra questions just for me:
1.What elements would entail a "perfect" life for you? I think a constant feeling of happiness and worth would make life perfect.  (No floods, no pets dying, no hail storms, acceptance letters, friends, good health)

2.How did you meet your husband? We met when I was 17.  I skipped a year of high school and started college early.   He was someone I admired from the moment we met.  He was driven, brilliant and an all around great guy.  We'll be celebrating our 25th anniversary next year.  It's hard to believe!  We keep our marriage fresh by still have firsts in our lives...like the Harley.  :) 

We both appreciate all of your participation in our blog party.  It's been great getting to know you.  I'll be gone for a couple days.  I'm going to visit Susan.  When I get back I'll be adding some new people to my blog roll.  (smiles)

Really Random Questions...AND MY ANSWERS

(LOL, me being all tough...)

Jackee and I had so much fun with you guys in July!  We loved getting to know you.  We thought it might be fun for us to answer all the questions we asked you...

1. Do you take baths? Yes, when needed.
2. If you were a fruit, what kind would you be? I would be a sweet pea, because they live in pods and are a lovely green color.
3. Are you a cat? Nope, but it was a fun question...
4. Do you have teeth? If the answer is yes, what do you do with them? Yes, I brush and floss them.
5. When you wake up in the morning what is the first thing you do? I stumble down the stairs and find the coffee pot.
6. What phobia does Howie Mandel have? Do you have it? Howie is afraid of germs.  I'm not.
7. If you were going to re carpet my basement, what tool might you need? A tape measure...
8. What should you do right before you go to bed? (G-Rated blog warning) Brush your teeth and give thanks for your blessings.
9. If you were at a posh restaurant and ordered your favorite tea, what flavor would you order? Earl Grey
10. If you were in the kitchen at 7p.m. what would you be doing? I'd be doing the dishes.
11. What is your favorite snow cone or icy flavor? I'm not a big fan of cold things.  I think that's me being English...
12. After you sneeze it's a good idea to ___________________. Wash your hands!
13. Funky socks or practical ones? Sadly....I'm very practical (unless we are talking about face cream.)
14. You're at a wonderful diner, they make the BEST fruit pies.  What flavor do you order? I'd order carrot cake.  It's not a pie, but it's my favorite dessert.
15. Are you an international spy or traveler? I can't answer that question...I'm a rule follower. Enough said....
16. Name your favorite pick me up drink. Coffee...strong coffee...
17. I say cookie, you say _________________________. milk
18. You are trapped on a deserted dessert island and all you have to drink is flavored water.  What flavor do you drink first? First, a desert island...think about it...Second, strawberry.
19. If you see a mouse in your house, what do you do? I tell my husband to do something about it!  Then I stay in my room until the problem is resolved...No matter how many days it takes...
20. Describe the inside of your desk drawer.I have a drawer with sections of pens, pencils, and post its in one drawer.  Can you say organized...OCD organized...?
21. If I was to give you a pile of photographs what would you do with them? I'd put them in a pile until I could scrapbook them.
22. When you go on vacation, do you take notes? I take lots of notes and pick up brochures everywhere I go...You never know when you might need that info for a book!
23. Tropical or local? Tropical....
24. It's 1 a.m. and you're at Waffle House, what do you order to drink? Strong Coffee.
25. If you could visit any kind of fruit farm, what would it be and why? I'd go to a pineapple farm.  I can't imagine what one would look like, so I really want to see one!
26. Do you wash your hands regularly? Yes, often too much, especially in cold and flu season.
27. You are on a trip to Iceland to do research. What research tool do you take with you? Pen and Paper
28. While in Iceland, your lips get very dry.  What flavor chap stick do you use? Lemon or orange...
29. If someone throws a ball and yells fetch what do you do?  I look for Macy.
30. You are having Tea with the Queen.  You are offered a variety of crepes.  What kind do you order? Strawberry.
31. You have a big day ahead of you.  What do you do to make sure you get everything done? Make a list!
32. Do you have a kitchen? Yep...a dusty one.
33. What's your favorite donut filling? When was the last time you had it?  I love apple fritters.  I don't know if that counts as a filling, but it makes me want to run out and buy one or four....
34. It's about 4 months until winter.  What will you need to protect your hands in the winter? Three layers of protection...hand cream, gloves and mittens on the very top layer.
35. Journal or computer? I start most writing projects on paper and then move to the computer.  I'm old school...
36. If you were to find a bone, what would you do? I'd try and figure out what the bone belonged to.
37. What's your favorite fruit roll up? Strawberry.
38. Carry on or cargo?  Cargo...I hate being stuck in the airport with a heavy bag.  I need to be able to shop at the gift shops.
39. Writer or reader? both
40. Tell me something surprising about yourself...Although I portray myself as a Harley chick, I'm more of an evening gown girl...One more thing (because I'm proud of myself), we've been boat people for 9 years.  This weekend was the first time I EVER jumped off the boat into the lake. 

I've really enjoyed getting to know you guys better.  If you have any questions for me (G-RATED), go for it! I'll answer them in the comments, rather than in an email...

THANKS FOR PLAYING ALONG WITH JACKEE AND ME...