April 2019 Reading Challenge: The Kids' Picks

I asked my kids for their top five middle grade recommendations and those book nerds gave me a list of eleven! There's no way I can get through that many reads in a month...but I'll share them here and then flip a coin...

Kids' Picks

1.) Wings of Fire Book One: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland

2.) The Third Mushroom by Jennifer Holm

3.) Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

4.) The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle* by Leslie Connor

5.) Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

6.) City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

7.) Ungifted* by Gordon Korman

8.) Schooled by Gordon Korman

9.) Restart by Gordon Korman

10.) It Ain't So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas

11.) Orphan Island* by Laurel Snyder

* A recommended read!

Burnout Rides Again!

The Gamut

I made so many mistakes with this cover that I had to go above and beyond the "three's a charm" and hit "Final Four!" I'm so happy with how this latest version turned out that I'm ready to celebrate! Free ebook anyone? Hell, yeah!

But before we head over to Amazon for a freebie (Free on March 22 - 23, 2019),  I want to review the pain so I can relish the gain. First, I started with the wrong font, all chunky letters and tough looking, which had readers assuming the story was some kind of biker erotica. People do judge books by covers, myself included, but what I'd created couldn't be further from the truth! In reality, this is a chaste love story with road trips and motorcycles...an adventure for the young adult (YA) crowd and the young at heart. 

By the second cover, I'd decided to use a more fun and youthful looking font but stuck with the leather jacket/zipper motif I had going on, mostly because I had a vision of using fabrics on all my covers. Dealing with Blue had denim, and in the case of Riding with the Hides of Hell, I envisioned black leather. But I was getting raised eyebrows whenever I mentioned the title.

While considering a title-change, a friend was busy giving me flack about the dark cover and how it needed to be brightened up. So I went gung-ho and gave everything an overhaul. I drew a motorcycle, added a pop of color, threw in some angles, but I couldn't let that leather jacket go. Ugh...I really disliked this cover! As it turned out, the third time was not a charm.

However, I did need that third step to get me to the fourth and final cover, which I love! This represents the fun, the love, and the adventure that I put into this book. Aesthetically, it works for me. I ditched the leather jacket that had initially gotten this project off the ground and brought in some asphalt, instead. I couldn't have gotten to version four without failing three times before. *I'm a poet, and didn't even know it.*

The take-away?

* Check the title...make a list of five or ten and whittle it down from there. The first one you think of is rarely the best answer.

* Brainstorm multiple cover layouts while mocking up thumbnails. Hit the bookstores and review covers in related genres. Compare and contrast. I peruse the ads at myfonts.com to see how they have fonts set up on the page.

* Where can a pop of color be added to draw attention? Where's the focal point? Where does the eye travel to next? Does it stay on the page?

* How does the final cover look when it's a thumbnail size on shopping sites? When I reduced my cover, the motorcycle got lost in the darkness, which had me going back to the drawing board. For the final, I framed the bike within the yellow beam to make it visible on the cover, big or small.

Boom! Done.

Now, ready to head over to Amazon for that free ebook? Give it a go, or buy a paper copy to really get the full effect. And don't forget to leave a review...this book's a lot of fun with tough luck and tough love, not to mention it's had a pretty tough start. Mercy.

Most of all, I hope you enjoy it!

March 2019 Reading Challenge: Kismet!

Kismet: fate; destiny; the will of God.

Recently, my kids and I were at our local thrift store, shopping for books, when my daughter pointed down the row and said, "Look, Mom! It's your book." Out of all the books showing off their spines, mine--with its original cover--sat face forward on the shelf as seen in the picture I took below. 

Dealing with Blue

Talk about kismet. 

So for March's reading challenge I pulled together a list of reads that somehow spoke to me or seemingly came my way as though it were "meant to be."

The Kismet Pile

1.)  The Raft by S. A. Bodeen - I had this one in hand at the thrift store before seeing my book sitting face out on the shelf. "It is your destiny." ~ Darth Vader

2.) Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson - A spontaneous purchase after listening to the author's sales pitch online. I bought it, so I guess I should read it, too.

3.) The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - I've been eyeballing this book ever since it hit the shelves but the trope didn't really call to me. When I saw it on the "Choice Reads" table at the library, I picked it up. Free read, great cover, and a great first sentence. Good start.

4.) Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin - A friend gifted this one to my little bookworm, who loved it. Personally, I wouldn't have looked at it twice - judging books by covers, yadda, yadda - but when my kid recommends a read, I listen.

5.) Tisha by Robert Specht and Anne Purdy - This book has been kicking around for a spell, Montana speak meaning one copy was on my mom's bookshelf probably since 1976, the copyright date. Another copy was found at my grandma's and was later bequeathed to me. *shrugs* Popular book in my family...guess I should check it out.

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Excerpt from

Darth Vader and Son by Jeffrey Brown

Ballard, Seattle: Sharing Books with Little Free Libraries

I met a wonderful friend for lunch at the Hi-Life in Old Ballard, Seattle--I recommend the red pepper and tomato soup, by the way--and afterward, traipsed off to do that fun little thing I like to do, which is buzzing around neighborhoods, leaving good vibes, and sharing my stories. Check out these cute Little Free Libraries:

Distance Between

SLUG: St. Luke's Urban Garden

Burnout

Old Ballard Area

Dealing with Blue

Old Ballard Area

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"The flower doesn't dream of the bee. It blossoms and the bee comes." ~ Mark Nepo

February 2019 Reading Challenge: The Letter V

Along with hearts and flowers, chocolates and cupids, comes a February reading challenge dedicated to another letter from the alphabet, V. Not necessarily V for Vendetta, and doesn't have to be V for valentines. It could be the start of a word, like Verity or versus, or it could be contained within, like Ivy, Heaven, never or selves. To shake things up a bit, I pulled together a nice mix of titles that didn't involve the word "love" or the color pink. Read on:

The Letter V

A Four-Pointer!

1.) Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

2.) Girl V. Boy by YVonne Collins and Sandy Rideout

3.) The ReinVention of IVy Brown by Roberta Taylor

4.) Penny from HeaVen by Jennifer Holm

5.) Things I'll NeVer Say: Stories About Our Secret SelVes* by Ann Angel

* A recommended read!

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"My brain throbs for you..."

Columbia River Gorge: Sharing Books with Little Free Libraries

Back from Nevada with the holidays behind me and the open road ahead. Destination: Columbia River Gorge to see my pups, Tilly Bean and Tango Mango, who've been staying with my parents and their doxie "fur-aunts" for the past month.

During the four-hour road trip, I listened to the first 3 out of 11 CDs of Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver on audio and wished I could keep on driving, keep on listening to the amazing Sarah Drew narrate...yes, the story is that good. 

I wove my way back and forth over the Columbia River, from Washington to Oregon and back again, stopping at a few cute little towns "gifting" my books to eight Little Free Libraries.

First stop: Hood River, a wind-surfer's haven, home of the Full Sail Brewery, and a gateway to Mount Hood.

Sounds Complicated and Distance Between

in Hood River, Oregon

Burnout in Hood River, Oregon

Second stop: White Salmon, "The land where the sun meets the rain..."

Distance Between in

White Salmon, Washington

Third stop: The Dalles, where the sun shines, the cherries grow, and the salmon skim the currents.

Distance Between and Burnout

The Dalles, Oregon

Sounds Complicated and Dealing with Blue

The Dalles, Oregon

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“Take only memories, leave only footprints.” ~ Chief Seattle

...and books. Take one, leave one.

January 2019 Reading Challenge: An Acrostic Book List

Welcome to a new year of books!

My mind has been in word-puzzle-and-poetry mode for the last couple of months while creating new blackout poems, where I search for the right words in the right place on a book page and then add some pizzazz with a doodle drawing. Check out Sounds Complicated and Distance Between to see my latest compilation and publishing efforts.

Anyway, while dreaming up a good January reading challenge, I wondered how I could use the words in the book titles. Snap! Got it. You know that poem where you take the first word in each line to spell out a message. It's not alliteration and it's not anagram. What's the other "A" word in Poetry Land? Right! Acrostic. But what exactly does that mean? 

"An acrostic is a piece of writing in which a particular set of letters -- typically the first letter of each line, word, or paragraph -- spells out a word or phrase with special significance to the text. Acrostics are most commonly written as a form of poetry, but they can also be found in prose or used as word puzzles." 

~ Bergman, Bennet. "Acrostic." LitCharts.

Acrostic Title Challenge

It took some hunting and pecking to get the right titles lined up, but I finally pulled together a list of five that I'm excited about. Can't wait to dig into 2019 with these gems:

1.) Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

2.) One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus*

3.) Wish by Barbara O'Connor*

4.) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver*

5.) Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson

* A recommended read!

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"Don't say I wish. Say I will." ~ Unknown

Fabulous Five: Favorite Reads for 2018

Book piles, upon book piles! I'm surrounded, which is a good way to be :) Over the past year, I've perused 194 books, some read thoroughly, some skimmed, and some I did not finish (dnf).

Goodreads 2018 Reading Challenge

I enjoy making lists, so below is my favorite, thoroughly-read reads during 2018:

1.) MIDDLE GRADE

My favorite book for 2018, hands-down, no contest is The Naked Mole-Rat Letters by Mary Amato (2007). I read this straight-through and out-loud to a sick kid, and let me tell you, laughter is the best medicine. This book cured the doldrums! I was hoarse from speaking for so many hours and from laughing. It's hilarious. Both boring covers do NOT do it justice; I never would have bothered with this one. But my daughter grabbed it off the school library shelf in a hurry, and--WOW!--what a treat it turned out to be.

2.) MIDDLE GRADE HISTORICAL FICTION

I loved the characters in Full of Beans by Jennifer Holm (2018) so much that after I finished reading the library's copy, I went and bought my own...along with four other books by Jennifer Holm. New fan alert!

3.) MIDDLE GRADE AUDIOBOOK

It must have been a year for middle grade books, because I have a long list of favorites in this genre. But I felt like I had to whittle it down to just a few and making the cut is The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies (2009) and read by the awesome Stina Nielsen. Perfect for a road trip.

4.) CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (2013) was a book I put off reading for a long time since I'm not one for sad reads. However, I picked it up, read the first page, and fell into the story. When it was over, I couldn't stop thinking about it...a sign of a good read.

5.) WOMEN'S HISTORICAL FICTION

With so much hype, I wasn't sure The Help by Kathryn Stockett (2011) would be for me. But a worn copy showed up in my mailbox--a true surprise!--from a retired librarian friend with a note suggesting I give it a go. With reservation, I slowly cracked it open and immediately fell in love with the voice and characters. Shelf-worthy.

Want more? Here's my list of favorite reads for 2017. Enjoy!

Nevada: Sharing Books with Little Free Libraries

One House's Christmas Spirit

"Boulder City Family Wins National Christmas Lights Competition!"

While sauntering the streets of Boulder City, Nevada one afternoon--Just some Seattlites soaking up much needed sunshine--we came across the house above and thought, "Whoa." Unlit, there's not much to see, but a gaudy display of electrical cords, bulbs, plastic and plywood. But when we returned that evening, it certainly packed a magical punch. "Wow!" Since our first discovery, we've returned at least six times to bask in the Christmas cheer. I was happy to read they made the news, winning a national competition, and earning $50K, which will probably go toward their electricity bill. Thank you to the Ryan/Musgrave family for sharing their unique talent and helping us to see the light, literally.

In keeping with the Christmas spirit, I shared copies of Sounds Complicated and Distance Between with the locals via Little Free Libraries in Boulder City and Henderson, Nevada. It was so much fun distributing books around Kalispell, MT last summer that I came prepared for the holidays.

Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!

Santa Claus and a Heart Cactus

Distance Between in Boulder City Free Little Library #1

Happy Holidays!

Sounds Complicated in Boulder City Free Little Library #2

   

"I brake for Little Free Libraries."

Sounds Complicated in Boulder City and Henderson, NV

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      "A book is a gift you can open again and again." ~ Garrison Keillor

December 2018 Reading Challenge: Christmas Book Binge Reading

What do words like "December" and "binge" and "pile" have in common? That's right, they all have to do with reading Christmas books!

Welcome to another Christmas Book Binge Reading challenge, where anything winter, snow, and holiday-related get read in mass quantities. Get ready! Get set!

Fa la la la la...

Ginormicorn from Unstable Unicorns

T-shirt Design by TeeTurtle

The Holiday Pile

Below is a mix of genres including romance, young adult, and childrens picture books. I said it last December, and I'll say it again...I'm not one for writing reviews, but I love making lists, so there's a big one to follow, a list of all the books I've read so far. If they passed my good-read meter, I inserted a link. Here goes...

CHILDREN PICTURE BOOKS

1.) This Is Christmas by Tom Booth - Woodsy animals don't need any of the marketing hooey to know what Christmas is. A natural setting with beautiful illustrations, too.

2.) Santa Clauses: Short Poems form the North Pole by Bob Raczka - A daily dose of haiku poetry rich with sensory details. Illustrations were divine with one little nitpick...elves' noses. I'll just leave it at that.

3.) Allie, the Christmas Spider by Shirley Menendez
4.) Cork & Fuzz: Merry Merry Holly Holly by Dari Chaconas
5.) Just Right for Christmas by Birdie Black
6.) Yoon and the Christmas Mitten by Helen Recorvits
7.) How to Catch Santa by Jean Reagan
8.) A Unicorn Named Sparkle's First Christmas by Amy Young
9.) Dream Snow by Eric Carle
10.) Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas by Julia Rawlinson
11.) Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood
12.) Snow by Roy McKie and P.D. Eastman
13.) Snow by Uri Shulevitz
14.) Snow by Sam Usher
15.) Tacky's Christmas by Helen Lester
16.) Santa is Coming to Washington by Steve Smallman
17.) How to Catch an Elf by Adam Wallace & Andy Elkerton
18.) Olivia and the Christmas Present adapted by Farrah McDoogle
19.) Guess Who's Coming to Santa's for Dinner? by Tomi DePaola
20.) The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long
21.) Toot & Puddle: Let It Snow by Holly Hobbie
22.) Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck
23.) Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert E. Barry
24.) Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas by Holly Hobbie
25.) Captain's Log: Snowbound by Erin Dionne - This one captured my imagination and made me want to seek out more information on the Shackleton/Endurance event. Of course, I was recently enamored with a cartoon called "Long Way North," so that could have something to do with it, too.

26.) Little Babymouse and the Christmas Cupcakes by Jennifer Holm
27.) Finding Christmas by Lezlie Evans

MIDDLE GRADE
28.) BabyMouse: Skater Girl by Jennifer Holm

YOUNG ADULT
29.) Love on the Lifts by Rachel Hawthorne
30.) Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle
31.) Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
32.) Christmas at Gate 18 by Amy Matayo
33.) A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates
34.) Snowed in with the Cowboy by Maisey Yates
35.) Snowbound with the Boss by Maureen Child
36.) A Whyte Christmas by Michele Brouder

2018 Christmas good-read meter = 3 books to recommend.

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Check out the 3 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2022 here!
Check out the 8 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2017 here!

Book Announcement: Blackout Poetry & Doodle Art

Hot off the Espial Design House press...twins! Please welcome my latest additions: two books compiling a selection of blackout poems and doodle art. Done! Uploaded! And available on Amazon in two versions: ebook and paperback.

Wow...that felt good to say, because it's been a long and convoluted journey, from holding an original poem in my hand to getting it scanned, sized, transferred, placed, saved, and ready for sharing. 

The little books are finally born...here they are:

Sounds Complicated

Blackout Poetry & Art

Distance Between

Blackout Poetry & Art

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"Our family has grown by two...!"

Two books and one hundred twenty pages, that is.

Nanowrimo 2018

Here we go again, on the brink between All-Hallows Eve and All Saints Day, that place where writers sit poised for the strike of midnight. Once November hits, fingers will fly across the keyboard, adding one word at a time, until there are 50,000 or more. You guessed it...NanoWrimo season.

I'm starting a new book in a new genre: YA fantasy. I've got my title and cover all sorted out because The Nano-ists say having a good, solid start is key to staying motivated. True. I want to see this thing done! It's been on my mind for a year, and now I'm pushing a lumpy, old project to the side in favor of something exciting where cell phones in a contemporary world won't get in my way, only sea monsters and a brackish king...

Candy Crush meets Lord of the Flies

This year's official Nanowrimo banner is cute, and I would have used it if I didn't already have one. But part of my "get motivated" event prep is to create a banner. This time I was inspired by my blackout poem called, Love Connection. It's the cover image of a compilation I'm going to publish soon. More on that later!

Official NaNoWriMo Banner

The ESPIALdesign Participation Banner, 2018

For now, focus! And good luck to all the participating writers out there.

Currently: Inspired by Grandma's Bookshelf

Two years ago, I hung the hardware and had boards cut for a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in the basement, something similar to what my grandma had in her loft. A place to hold board games, toys, and more importantly, a collection of books: travel, classics, sci-fi, young adult, etc...

When I was a kid, I would spend hours perusing my grandma's bookshelf. She was a teacher in Montana who taught multiple grades in a one-room school house. She had all kinds of books...old miniature ones bound in leather with wispy thin paper. Books about music, history, teaching. In front of her bookshelf, tucked away in the loft, always seemed like a magical place. No matter how often I was there, scanning book spines, reading and studying the pictures, playing with the old toys--relics from my dad's, my aunt, and my uncles' past--I always managed to find something new. I would ask myself, How long has this been here? Why didn't I notice it before?

For no particular reason, other than the summer weather, I finally got around to the task of making the pine shelves shiny and new with sand paper, stain, gloss, and a bit of elbow grease. I put my books in a semblance of genre order as best I could and made room for all those Legos...

Sand Job

Stained, Glossed, Stocked and Loaded

Middle Grade Shelf

When all was said and done, I stood back to admire my handiwork and was transported to a magical place once again. Those shelves not only hold my books and toys, but part of my grandma's, too, along with her memories. Her stuff is old and funny...and just weird. I think my aunt's doll says it all...

"I'm happy!"

"I mean, I'm sad."

"Wait, I'm confused."

The third face is peacefully asleep, thank goodness.

Little and Leather-Bound

Grandma's tiny address book, her mom's bible (1892), and a dictionary (1914)

"Work, Dick. Work, work."

The good ol' days when learning to read was funny, but not fun.

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 "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." ~ C.S. Lewis