The Almost Ides of March Educational Buzz

It's almost the Ides of March (okay it's only the beginning of the month) but let's see what's buzzing around so far:



MacKenna Stevens presents Our Kids, Our Future: Top 50 NonProfit blogs that Benefit Children posted at Masters in Social Work

Pat presents Children with Autism in the Classroom posted at Successful Teaching.

Marino Dixon presents The History of Online Education in America: The Ultimate Web Guide posted at Sir Learnalot's Knowledge Blog.

Sage presents The Next Big Thing in Digital Education posted at Free the Sage.

Susan Riley presents Why I Can?t Keep Up ? And My Students Can posted at Education Closet.

dragana presents Pictures with straws posted at Every Child is an Artist.

Denise presents Math Teachers at Play #35 posted at Let's Play Math!.

London Jenks presents The Search for Student Feedback in a Paperless Classroom posted at digitalteach.

Liam Goldrick presents The Tide Will Rise posted at The Education Optimists.

Mathew Needleman presents Close the Computer Lab posted at Creating Lifelong Learners.



The next Education Buzz will be back at Carol's blog on March 16. To submit an article for the education buzz carnival, please click here. If you would like to host an edition of the education buzz, please contact Carol at her email - mybellringers@gmail.com. If you find any broken links, please let Carol know also.

Five Reasons You're Not Writing Your Novel

5 Reasons You’re Not Writing Your Novel

This post was written by Jessica Stilling who also writes for pharmacy technician and medical assistant

So you’ve always wanted to be a writer. Maybe you got that fancy MFA, or you sit in your room during all hours of the night typing away, or maybe you fantasize about what it would be like to be a best selling author at your day job. Whatever the case, you know it’s time to write that novel and yet you’re waiting. Why? Here are a few reasons you might be waiting, and a few reasons why putting it off would be the worst mistake of your life.

#1. You don’t have time. Make time. Yes, you have a job, a family, a social life. There are bills to pay and a girlfriend to keep happy. You don’t need to give up your life, or your income, to write, just set aside some time. Wake up an hour earlier and write a few pages every day, set aside a few hours on the weekend when you would otherwise be breezing through an entire season of Dexter. Evaluate how you’re using your time and see where you might find room for writing.

#2. You’re not inspired. This is a problem and no, the solution is not simply get inspired. Though inspiration may seem like a magical force that comes and goes whenever it feels like it, there are ways to jumpstart creative juices. Sit and think for a while, go for a walk, sit on a park bench and listen and watch people. Maybe the inspiration for the heroine for your best seller is standing over by the hot dog vendor.

#3. Your head is not in the right place. Again, this solution is not so simple, you can’t just get your head in the right place to write a novel. Still, there are ways to evaluate where your head is and where it needs to be. Is your boyfriend being a pain, does your best friend need to cry on your shoulder about her latest break up? You don’t need to drop every emotional connection you have, on the contrary, those connections can feed creative juices, but you might want to re-evaluate where you’re spending your emotional energy.

#4. The Market. The market is bad, the market is flooded, the market doesn’t want this. Whatever the reason, the all mighty market seems to take a lot of blame for a lot of unwritten novels. What does the market have to do with your writing? Maybe by the time you finish this project the market will have turned around, maybe you’ll be the lucky one person who hits it big? And if not, so what? You’re writing a novel, not working for the market.

#5. You simply do not believe that you and/or your idea is good enough. Well that’s just silly. You’ve wanted to write since you were how old? You’ve been planning this novel at least in the abstract for how long? Of course you have talent, and of course your idea has merit and even if those publishers and agents tell you otherwise, don’t listen. Your ideas, your talent will grow as you write this novel.

Overall, you owe it to yourself, you owe it to your work and the greater literary society to write this novel. So go for it.

VBT Writers on the Move

I forgot to post this yesterday but I was featured on Jennifer Gladen's blog as part of the VBT Writers on the Move monthly tour. Please stop by and see what I have to say about making a name for oneself. - E :)

Five Must Have Books for Writing Books for Writers

5 Must-Have Writing Books for Authors

By: Joy Paley who also writes on the best social work schools and for various other websites like this site.

There must be thousands of how-to books on writing out there. It makes sense, right? If you’re a writer who is good at writing, clearly you’ll want to share your knowledge with others through your favored medium. Have you ever heard an expert trying to explain their field, though?  Just like listening to a nuclear scientist tell a layperson about their latest research, writers aren’t always the best at explaining the tricks of the trade to a broad audience. There are some good ones out there—you just have to persevere. I’ve sifted through the chaff and found five books on writing that won’t leave you groaning or scratching your head.

The Modern Library Writer’s Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction

By: Stephen Koch

For the beginning writer, reading about craft can be, well, mysterious. It doesn’t seem so much a craft as some mystical process which happens in a writer’s head under a full moon on the winter solstice. Koch taught at Columbia University’s creative writing program for decades, and he’s clearly used to explaining the mechanics of fiction to those who are new to writing. His tone is that of a kind mentor, and he offers practical tips and interesting quotes from some of the most well-known authors out there.

• Good for: the new short story writer or novelist

Zen in the Art of Writing

By: Ray Bradbury

Sci fi legend Ray Bradbury serves up inspiring writing advice in these ten short essays. Here you won’t find tips like how to outline or pace a story. The book is more about getting outside one’s head and tapping the creativity inside of them; consider this the zealous antidote to Koch’s sage, practical advice. While some might dismiss this as the same vague mysticism that comes with lots of writing advice, it’s more empowering than that—it can get me excited about writing, even when I’m sure I’m ready to give the whole thing up and become an accountant.

• Good for: the depressed writer

Women Writers At Work: The Paris Review Interviews

Edited by: George Plimpton and Margaret Atwood

I would recommend all three volumes of this set, even though I’ve only linked to one. These Paris Review interviews are by far some of the most intimate and candid ones out there: instead of the standard Time magazine softball questions, you find the writers in a relaxed atmosphere actually sharing how they work and think about their writing. As fiction writing is still largely a man’s game, this set can be inspiring for any experienced or amateur lady writers out there.

• Good for: women writers

The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers

Edited by: Vendela Vida

You can consider this the antidote to the Paris Review interviews. If you’re familiar with the literary magazine The Believer, you’ll recognize its funny, slightly off tone in the interviews of this book. Writers as diverse as Grace Paley and Haruki Murakami are interviewed by fellow writers. The questions aren’t only casual and funny, but also revealing—you’ll get a glimpse into their personal life, which, as a neurotic writer myself, I am always interested to see.

• Good for: the seasoned writer

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

By: Anne Lamott

It’s only the truly masochistic person that decides to pursue writing seriously. Because of this, most writers have a pretty close relationship with self-deprecation. As you watch a new work unfold from its choppy, undeveloped self into something more readable, it’s always tempting to abandon it midstream and call yourself a failure. Lamott’s book offers valuable advice on getting over your own perfectionism and self-esteem hang-ups—something that all writers deal with. It’s personal and well-written, and I often turn to certain chapters for an inspiring pick-me-up.

• Good for: the unsure writer

Guest Blogger - Dallas Woodburn: Sticking with your goals

Today, my guest is Dallas Woodburn, another accomplished person at such a young age. Dallas will stop by during the day to answer any comments and questions, so don't be shy, ask away. Dallas has provided us with an article about short-term goal setting. Thank you for joining us today, Dallas.

STICKING TO YOUR GOALS
by Dallas Woodburn

How is 2011 going for you so far? How are those new year's goals and resolutions holding up?

To really make a new habit stick, I've heard that you need to do it consistently for three weeks, and then it much more likely to be a permanent part of your routine.

But, as we all know, new habits set with the best of intentions can be difficult to stick to. Especially in the hectic weeks of a new year after coming back from a holiday break. Especially in the frigid February snow. Especially when there are so many other, important things clamoring for your attention.

I'm a big believer in daily goals, and I'm also a big believer in baby steps. Break down something that seems huge into small steps you can take every day. Just do a little bit every day. Consistently. Baby steps add up to huge accomplishments.

Here's a motivation tool I found, courtesy of the wonderful positive-news site Gimundo, that has been helping me with my goal of writing a certain number of words every day: Joe's Goals. It's supposedly inspired by a motivation concept of Jerry Seinfeld, with the simple idea: Don't break the chain. You enter a goal you want to do consistently -- every day, three times a week, etc -- and it is marked down on this calendar for you. Every day, if you do the goal, you get to check it off. Your checks soon become a chain of happy green check marks, and the last thing you want to do is "break the chain" and have to start all over again! It sounds simple, but it has really helped me stay on top of my writing goal so far.

Case in point: last night, I got home late, and I hadn't written enough yet for my word count goal, so I plunked down in front of my computer and wrote some before I went to bed. All so I could truthfully have that little green check mark. If not for that website, I very likely would have thought, I'll just write more tomorrow. But, as my role model Coach Wooden used to say, "You can't do anything about yesterday, and the only way to improve tomorrow is by what you do right now. We kid ourselves: 'I'll buckle down tomorrow and work twice as hard.' No. If you can work twice as hard tomorrow, it means you're holding something back today. I want 100% today. And tomorrow."

Of course, it requires that you be honest with yourself, but I think that is a requirement no matter how you are going after your goals.

Good luck! I'm rooting for you!


Bio: Dallas Woodburn is the author of two award-winning collections of short stories and editor of Dancing With The Pen: A Collection of Today’s Best Youth Writing. Her short stories have twice been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and the Dzanc Books “Best of the Web” anthology and have appeared in numerous literary magazines including Monkeybicycle, Arcadia Journal, flashquake, and The Newport Review, among others. She has also written articles and essays for Family Circle, The Writer, Writer’s Digest, and The Los Angeles Times. Dallas is currently pursuing her M.F.A. in Fiction at Purdue University, where she serves as Assistant Fiction Editor for Sycamore Review. She is also the founder of Write On! For Literacy, an organization that empowers youth through reading and writing. Learn more here.




Where to find Dallas:
Write On! Books
Dallas's Blog
Order 3 a.m. from amazon
Find Dallas on Fictionaut
Follow Dallas on Twitter
Dallas's Facebook page




Be sure to follow the VBT Writers on the Move tour with Mari Taylor tomorrow when she hosts Heidi Thomas.

Spindle clarification

Remember a few days ago there was a posting about what the British equivalent of a spindle was? Well, it seems my first impression or first-and-a-half (because after reading the definitions Diplo_Dad posted from wikipedia about what a spindle was, I turned to the metal stick where you push papers on it - posted a picture and all; but originally I was thinking on the lines of this clarification. I think this does a little bit of clarification but suffice it to say how a 5-year-old would come up with a statement like "Be careful of the spindle or it will cut your fingers off." is kind of beeyond me - lol. Leave it to kids. So now we have the "word" spindle solved. Go read the enjoyable post over at Diplo_Dad's blog and enjoy the entertainment. Mrs. E :)

Unanswered Questions, part 2 - Saturday Centus

It's Saturday again and we are visiting with Ms. Jenny Matlock for the Saturday Centus meme. The rules are simply: pen a short story, 100 words or less excluding the prompt and post to your blog; link back to Ms. Jenny's blog for the Saturday Centus and post your blog posting's link on the McLinky portion of her blog. Don't forget to visit the others who have posted and leave comments. Oh yeah, keep it PG or lower rating, no pictures. Happy writing - E :)


Today I decided to take the prompt, which is provided by Ms. Ames of Girl Raised in the South. I wasn't really sure I was going to participate this week as I have a lot to do on the JGDS series and need to do my taxes and all kinds of other things. After reading the already posted writings, I came up with a continuation of the first part I started last week. This story will fully develop (I hope) and take me in a new direction. For the first part of the story, click here. My total word count for part 1 was 100 (including the prompt of She lifted the letters from the ancient chest). I hope this story develops deeper but only when I can really let the character develop in my mind and the story really get a footing. I know it is a past life story but not sure where it is leading me.


Unanswered Questions, Part 2

The letters had transported Geri to another time. As she peered in the newly acquired chest, it grew bigger by the minute. She rubbed her eyes. She wasn't believing what she saw. The stark emptiness of the chest. No letters filling the chest. But then she remembered, she had to put the letters in before the emptiness would shrink. She started penning the first of many letters that would fill the void. (total word count 72)

Spindle - what is it in Britain?

I've been following a stay-at-home father's blog, Diplo_Dad, who is living in the United Kingdom. He posted an interesting thing about something his 5-year-old son repeated from what the teacher said. Now when I saw the word, my mind went directly to this image (which by the definitions he found in a wikipedia article, this is what he is associating the word with):

So if a teacher says, “Don’t stick your fingers in the spindle, or they will be cut off,” one would not expect the image of this to be what a spindle is.

So I ask you all - what would you think a spindle is in British terms? What is the American version of said spindle? Something that could cut your fingers off if you so happened to get them caught in in it? If anyone finds out what the equivalent of a spindle is, please let me know, or pop over to Diplo_Dad's blog and let him know - E :)

Unanswered Questions - Saturday Centus

I found Jenny Matlock's blog from another blogger who commented on a teacher's blog I'm following and Jenny is doing a weekly writing prompt - called Saturday Centus - the object is to write 100 words, excluding the prompt, of a story, poem, or whatever inspires you. Link back to Jenny's blog and post your story on her Mr. Linky area so that visitors can read all the stories, and then post your story.

I wasn't going to participate because I was having so much fun reading the other people's postings but this just came to me and something said this was the one, so I am sharing this and this may turn into a longer story - something about past lives so maybe in a year or two, you may see this story published or heading for publication. I'm not too big on the title right now as it is really just a thought of a story that may develop later. If you all have any ideas for a title, please feel free to post them here. - see you in the postings - E :)




Unanswered Questions

Geri loved auctions. She never knew what the find of the day was going to be. She enjoyed delving into the past lives of people she could only imagine who had long since passed this way. She had many questions about her past and kept hoping that one day she would find the answers. Today's auction brought many treasures including the chest that seemed older than anything she had ever seen before. She lifted the stack of letters from the ancient chest and started reading. The words came so easily putting her in another world with many more unanswered questions. (total word count, including the prompt 100 words)

PW and the CPSIA

Well, the one-year stay is upon us and nothing has been finalized as per this article in PW today. Congressional members haven't finalized anything on the way books for children will or should be tested for lead (remember the legal limit of lead is 300 ppm as per the CPSIA which came to fruition in November of 2009, but it has been proven that the lead content in children's books is somewhere in the less than 10 ppm). If you are interested in PW's timeline of the events leading up to this date, you can view them here. Most of us haven't really spoken out much of late because it is kind of one of those "raised a ruckus thing and then was forgotten". I do get the emails from both the CPSC and the Amend the CPSIA folks but really haven't paid much attention to them of late. The article with PW today kind of made me go, "hunh - I need to be more involved now since I'm self-publishing books" for the targeted age group that is affected by this stupid act that is damaging a ton of businesses in the children's industry. I don't have a clue what will happen to the book publishing industry if the stay is not extended, finalized or the CPSIA is not totally revised soon. All I can keep on doing is publish my books until I'm told to stop. I may have to check with createspace folks to find out how this will affect me and/or them in the near future. Hopefully, before the 10th of February, the committees and congressional folks will have made a decision on extending or just totally amending the CPSIA. See you in the postings. - E :)

Book Review: Revenge for Old Times' Sake by Kris Neri

SNOW

Twice in less than a month - this was staken from the little stoop that is actually my front porch this morning. The school closing actually came to my email before the snow started (weird) - anyway - this is what my driveway looks like so guess we aren't going anywhere for a while - E :)


- My car is parked on a slight upward slant so you can see how much snow there is up to the tires.






I was going for the tree that is off to the side behind my car because I think it is cool how the snow is just there.




For thos of you who live where snow is a constant pretty much all winter long and sometimes before winter, then you won't think this is a big deal. For those of you in the south, not in the mountains or anywhere where you see snow several times a year, this is a sight to see. I like it one day and thn for it to disappear - hope it's gone tomorrow - because if it lingers much more than a day, then I go stir crazy - lol. Enjoy it today - see you in the postings - E :)

Blogging pet peeve

This is kind of a followup posting to the one on my JGDS blog this past weekend about finding teacher blogs to follow.

Why is that when you find some really good blogs to follow that hopefully will get your foot in the door that most of them don't have an email subscriber? I don't mind following blogs and having them in my blogroll, but following a blog isn't enough for me. Following means I have to open my dashboard every day and see who has posted something new, but I don't have time for that. RSS feeds don't do it either since I don't open my blogger every day. Email subscriptions on the other hand I open my every day and some days several times a day. I can read the posting, decide if a comment is needed or not. I wish more people in the blogosphere would utilize email subscribers (feedburner or feedblitz or even allow them on wordpress). I have come across a ton of blogs this morning, again, from one person's comment on a blog posting I am getting the email notifications for, and many of them don't have an email subscriber.

I would like to see more folks utilize the email subscribers out there so I can keep up with the relavent blogs. I keep saying, you never know when the right connection will be made - See you all in the postings - E :)

Sunrise

This morning was my day to take the kids (every other week I have Wednesdays and Thursdays or Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays). The sunrise was very pretty this morning. Hailie had her camera with her and snapped this picture. Enjoy - E ;)



- The best she could do from the car while waiting for her friend to come to the car to go to school -

Snow on Christmas Day

I took a much needed trip to visit with my folks and knew before coming up to North Carolina it was supposed to snow this weekend. After doing gifts this morning and eating breakfast, father was checking the weather info for Boone (where his church is located) and I happened to look out the window and sure enough it was snowing. Not sure when it started but still Christmas day and it is a white Christmas. I probably will be snowed in until Monday but it will be fine, I hadn't planned on going home until Monday anyway. Wishing you all a wonderful time wherever you may be and hoping Santa was good to you all - see you all in the postings - E :)

Stop by and find out what the perfect gift is

Stop by Donna McDine's Golden Pathway blog and find out what the perfect gift can be. I'm featured with an article today - hope to see you all in the postings - E :)

Guest Blogger - Heidi M. Thomas

Today, we look at Heidi's second book, Follow the Dream, the sequel to her Cowgirl Dreams. I thank you Heidi for gracing my blog with your book about your grandmother's dreams of being a cowgirl.






Synopsis: Nettie Moser’s dreams are coming true. She’s married to her cowboy, Jake, they have plans for a busy rodeo season, and she has a once in a lifetime opportunity to rodeo in London with the Tex Austin Wild West Troupe.
But life during the Great Depression brings unrelenting hardships and unexpected family responsibilities. Nettie must overcome challenges to her lifelong rodeo dreams, cope with personal tragedy, survive drought, and help Jake keep their horse herd from disaster.

Will these challenges break this strong woman?

This sequel to Cowgirl Dreams is based on the life of the author’s grandmother, a real Montana cowgirl.


Reviews coming in for Follow the Dream:
“I enjoyed Heidi Thomas’s bittersweet novel with its accurate depiction of the lives of cowgirls in 1930s Montana and its tender portrait of a marriage.” --Mary Clearman Blew, English professor U of ID, award-winning author of All But the Waltz: A Memoir of Five Generations in the Life of a Montana Family, Balsamroot: A Memoir; Bone Deep in Language: Writing, Reading, and Place; Lambing Out and Other Stories, and Jackalope (Flyover Fiction).

In her poignant tale of Nettie Moser's diligent pursuit of a dream, Heidi Thomas gives a stunning example of what it means to "Cowgirl Up." Follow the Dream is a dynamic story of a woman's strength and determination that is sure to inspire as well as entertain.
—Sandi Ault, award-winning author of the WILD Mystery Series, including Wild Indigo, Wild Inferno, Wild Sorrow, and Wild Penance.

Follow Your Dream draws the reader into the lives of tough Montana ranchers, Nettie and Jake Moser. Dreams come and go, but their ranching life goes on with hardships and struggles for basic survival, but also with abiding love and humor. A wonderful story of courage and endurance. --Mary Trimble, award-winning author of Tenderfoot, Rosemount and McClellan’s Bluff.


5 stars A Dream Never Forgotten
By Dan A. Johnson -

This is the second novel written by Heidi M. Thomas that is loosely based on her Montana grandmother who grew up riding horses and competing in local rodeos. In the book, Nettie's childhood dream is to become a successful rodeo rider like her dear friend Marie. Follow The Dream begins when Nettie is invited by Marie to compete in a wild west rodeo in London, a chance of a lifetime. But fate has another plan for the newly married Nettie. The dream is put on hold, but never forgotten The story is set in Montana in the 20s and 30s. Nettie struggles with personal tragedy and the challenges of getting by raising horses with her husband. They face many droughts and blizzards, let alone the harsh realities of surviving in isolated rural settings. This book deserves a place on the bookshelf next to Ivan Doig's coming of age in Montana novels.

Bio:
Heidi M. Thomas grew up on a working ranch in eastern Montana. She had parents who taught her a love of books and a grandmother who rode bucking stock in rodeos. Describing herself as “born with ink in her veins,” Heidi followed her dream of writing with a journalism degree from the University of Montana and later turned to her first love, fiction, to write her grandmother’s story.

Autographed copies of both books are available from the author’s website, from her publisher Treble Heart Books, and Follow the Dream is available on Kindle.



Be sure to follow the rest of the VBT Writers on the Move stops:

20th Marietta Taylor is featuring Dallas Woodburn
21st Robert Medak is featuring Kevin McNamee
22nd Donna McDine is featuring Elysabeth Eldering (Tis the season of giving - check out my article about giving the gift that never gets old).
23rd Shelby Patrick is featuring Martha Swirzinski
24th Mayra Calvani is featuring Heather Paye (wonder what my illustrator has in store for us this time)

Remember we are taking a break in December and January and will be returning in February, so hopefully you all will have a blessed holiday season. Wishing you all "Cowgirl Dreams"

Book Review - The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade

The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade
Written by Lori Calabrese
Illustrated by Chet Taylor

The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade is a delightful story of Matt, a third-grader who finds a rare bug and is hoping to win the "Bug-A-Fair" with his unusual entry. The day of the fair, Matt has another bug that plagues him, and in turn the entire class.

I love how Lori has woven a common every day "bug" into this children's story of finding a rare bug for the school bug-a-fair and disrupts the whole class due to the bug escaping but everyone thinks he is just trying to make the whole class sick with his illness. With this being cold season, I can totally see how this bug would go around. The illustrations enhance this story that you feel sorry for Matt because he gets sent home before he can catch his real bug and enter it in the fair, but in the end it all works out well.

Anyone who likes bugs and creepy crawlers will enjoy this book. Lori's rhyming story is a delight to add to any library.

Product Details
Paperback: 24 pages
Reading level: Ages 4 to 8
Publisher: Dragonfly Publishing, Incorporated (August 4, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936381052
ISBN-13: 978-1936381050
Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.3 inches


SCHEDULE OF TOUR STOPS
November 17
Raising Itty Bitty Bookworms

November 18
There's a Book

November 19
The Iron Bodkin

November 30
Into the Wardrobe



Lori's Bio:

Lori Calabrese is an award-winning children’s author. Her first picture book, The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade, was awarded DFP’s Best Children’s Book Award. She writes for various children’s magazines, is the National Children’s Books Examiner and enjoys sharing her passion for children’s books at festivals, schools and events. Visit her website to learn more. Lori Calabrese has a bachelor's degree in Communications from St. John's University in Queens, New York, and is a graduate of The Institute of Children's Literature and a member of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Lori currently lives in Connecticut with her husband, two sons, and the family pets: two guinea pigs named Up and Down.

Skinks (lizards) and Snakes, oh my!!

Yesterday was critter day in my house. It's bad enough I have a mouse running around driving me nuts in the walls and stuff but the snake was the one that about did me in.

I had to pick my daughter up at the library after school and headed to the bathroom before I left. I turned on the light and almost stepped on the snake. I jumped back in panic mode at first and grabbed whatever I could find to kill him. It took me a bit of time but I found a sturdy oar standing in the corner of the hall area to smash him with. He didn't die too easily though; took me about 3 or 4 minutes to really make sure he was dead. I'm sure he was harmless and would have probably caught the mouse if given the opportunity but I do not like snakes and definitely do no like them in my house, in any shape or form, even though he may not be after me. I took him outside and I think Reeses got him and took him away somewhere because he is no longer where I dropped him. Did I mention I DO NOT LIKE SNAKES AT ALL!!!!

The skink on the other hand has been flitting around on some boxes that are behind my computer desk the last few days but yesterday he got brave and actually came on my desk and visited me on the tray where my laptop sits (very old desk with pullout tray for a keyboard but I use it for my laptop). I got him shooed away from the computer and the desk and I think he did escape to the rainy outside. He ended up going up the outside wall and under the plastic I have covering the bay window that lets in a lot of cold air, so hoping he made it up into the window area and found his escape to the outside.

I think the mouse must have known that I killed his enemy because he was partying in the wall behind my bed last night and driving me nuts. I even bought some mouse traps - those covered glue traps a few weeks ago and he has avoided them completely. As long as hee stays out of my bed and away from me I'm okay with it for now.


And a totally off note not related to critters - State of Heights was proof copy ordered today so hopefully that will be released next week for purchase. This is the fifth book in the series. So far this year, State of Reservations, State of Successes and State of Heights have (will be) released along with Train of Clues (the story that started it all) and my Passport Across America (a supplement to keep track of the books in the series or to use for a traveling companion). Next year, we will release State of Nature, State of Acceleration, and State of Imagination between January and June and two others later in the year (as of yet they are untitled, although a tentative title for book #10 is State of Production, but that will be after I finish tweaking the clues and run it by my friend who usually comes up with my titles; this particular title is because Benjamin got to hear the clues and thought some of them were pretty cool and State of Production was descriptive of the state in more ways than one). I do have a cover for State of Nature, which will be released in January. You can check out all the information on all books available now on my website. All orders placed from the website will be autographed copies except for the Passport Across America as this is not really a story, just an activity booklet to supplement the series.

See you all in the postings - E :)

Good News - Butterfly Halves

I wrote a story for young adults either last year or the year before that had been printed as an ebook, although it didn't win that contest. The first part of this year, I submitted the story to an anthology - a children's story anthology but it was rejected for that anthology asking if I would let them consider it for the faery anthology they were planning. Yesterday (Sunday) when I checked my email, there was notification that the story had been accepted for the anthology. So congrats to me for getting that story published again. Here is the cover that was attached to that story as an ebook:






Grant it, this won't be the cover, but my name will be getting out there in other places. When I have a cover for the anthology, I'll share it. From what I can tell, the publication date is slated for March 2011. Rebel Books will be the ones publishing the anthology. (Looks like the title is Rebel Wing and I'll share a cover when available.) I'll keep you all posted on the updates of the anthology - E :)