|
If you were to write a book in a day, what would it be about? Story Stringers set their book, Chasing Rainbows, in a classroom, observatory and opal mine, covering earth and sky. I loved the offbeat element of the cat breeder and rainbow-inspired characters. Themes in this book are friendship, acceptance and what it means to be home.  An amazing project in Australia opens this competition to young writers and supports children in hospitals with the resulting wonderful tales that emerge.
Find out more about ‘Write a Book in a Day’ and/or read Chasing Rainbows, which won the national competition, here: https://writeabookinaday.com/past-results/
0 Comments
Today is an auspicious day as Joe Biden becomes president of the United States, and half-indian Kamala Devi Harris becomes vice-president, the first woman to do so, the first Asian American to do so and the first African American to do so! (She was born to an Indian mother and Jamaican father). I too am from a multi-cultural family. My italian mother gifted me this wonderful book for Christmas. I took a photo of it on a scarf from my indian aunt. To celebrate diversity I am leaving a book review of this wonderful middle-grade book, Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan.  Set in India, at the foothills of the Himalayas, young Asha goes on a quest to find her father. The journey is filled with peril and also beauty. Wonderful descriptions of nature and foods of India tease the senses as Asha walks, walks and walks. The peril of wild animals and dangerous people keeps the tension high. I enjoyed the magical guidance of the spirit of her grandmother, her nanijee, in bird form.
For a rich and magical tale, I would highly recommend this book. Today's guest post is a story from Mika. I enjoyed the visuals and sense of tension in her story. Mika explains her vision for her colourful tale. "I am ten years old and I have recently started to watch the James Bond films. I was joking around with my friends a few months ago about the fact that the James Bond producers should make a James Bond film where James Bond's aunt came and made James Bond's Birthday themed 'pink ballerinas.' a theme I am sure James Bond would dislike! Then a few months later I decided to write the story. Eon productions wasn't exactly going to do it... I hope you like it!" - Mika  One thing I really enjoyed about the holidays was the new books I received as gifts! As a children's writer of middle grade fiction, it's necessary 'homework' to read in that genre. That's my excuse for all the time I've spent delving into imaginative and at times profound stories, which for me is one of my favourite things to do - a treat!  One book that was gifted to me by my friend Linda in California was the first book in the Pages & Co series, Tilly and the Bookwanderers. Reading this book was a lot like curling up in a comfortable armchair with a cup of hot chocolate (with marshmallows - make those vegan marshmallows) in the company of books that line the shelves of a warm, cosy room like waiting friends. The story was a delicious wander through classic stories, meeting figures like Alice and Anne of Green Gables, as I journeyed with Tilly who searches for answers about her origins. The idea of Bookwandering was a lovely one and well-executed, with characters not being as fictional as they seem. As a reader and writer, I can relate to the blurred line between fiction and real, especially considering all the time I spend thinking about my characters and wondering what they are up to ... they do take on a life of their own!
I enjoyed Bookwanderers as a cosy, lovely adventure. I had some good news in Nov 2020 – my newest book Clarissa was published by Handersen Publishing. Today and tomorrow, it is free for kindle on Amazon.  A book for young readers, Clarissa explores the magic of nature. With the help of two wise friends, a fire spirit and an oak tree, young Clarissa learns to find her voice and speak her truth. “A delightful, fantastical tale of how oak trees and humans can be friends” – Dr. James Canton, professor of Wild Writing Clarissa is free for Kindle today and tomorrow. Paperbacks can be purchased from Amazon or directly from me. Buy it here on my author website and I will sign and send. I get the chills when I read a poem that touches something deep. Today I'd like to share a wonderful poem written by Beatrice, who is 14. She has an amazing talent and this poem came out of reflection on the four elements. I have read this aloud to myself several times, there is such meaning in it, maybe the Eyes will speak to you too ...  Element Eyes Image by Azriel Cross Poem from Beatrice: There are four oracles who all live on a place called The Beginning of an End. They are the Elemental All-seeing Eyes and a person could always claim they were their friend. Ask the Eye of the Fire and it would reply: find your heart and soul, let them burn bright and aim for a goal. Talk to Water's Eye and it will say: feel your calm and flow, feel your wishing grow. Remark to the All-seeing Eye of the Earth and it could tell you: search for your place of comfort and love, your place of hearing and above. Speak to the Air of the Eye and it might comment: gather your freeness and breath, gather your energy and death. And then, with all that in mind, you board your boat and sail away from the Beginning of an End, feeling like you have made amend. For the first time, I'm taking part in a virtual book tour. What is that? Silver Dagger tours has arranged for over 50 blogs to feature my newest book Clarissa, including three guest posts from me. They arranged for a Giveaway with 175 entries so far and counting (anyone can enter, just go to the tour page)! Today, day 2 of the 30-day tour, I already have seen an increase in my Twitter and Instagram followers. So far so worth it! And Maia at Silver Dagger made such gorgeous images too, like this scrumptious one.  Clarissa is the story of a young girl who, with the help of her wise friends Oak and Fire, learns to speak out. The book is intended for 8-12 year olds or the young at heart. Find out more about Clarissa on the Silver Dagger tours page. Paperbacks can be purchased right here on my website store, and I'll sign and send them! Harbacks can be found on the Handersen Publishing website store, and all versions including eBook are on Amazon. Where will Clarissa's story be told in the next thirty days? It's quite fun to think about! I am the co-creator of a new project, Creative Elementals. In one of our outdoor workshops for children, we explore the element air. Spinning, light, feathery, clear, we 'meet' air through brainstorming, swirling dance, writing and drawing. Amani, 10, went home after one of these and was inspired to create a 'map of air':  This is actually a great way to create a poem or story. Get to know a subject through creative brainstorming, then do the writing. Amani, talented girl, spun a wonderful poem from this air map:
Curling round, swirling round swooping down, diving down snatching lifting off your hat. Dying down, just a light breeze, rustling moving falling leaves a singing wind flying softly a twisting tornado searching and scattering filling your wings with Air. Air mischievous sprite blowing you away. Next time you're outside walking, notice Air. And watch you don't get blown away by this amazing element! It's 2021. And I'm starting the year by launching a new blog.I'm a children's author who loves to write stories that explore the magic of nature and the four elements of earth, air, fire and water. I enjoy writing and reading middle grade children's fiction, ages approximately 7-15 years, and of course the young at heart.
In this blog I will: -Review middle grade children's fiction -Post stories and poems from talented young people -Explore writing tips and craft -Share news about my own books Anything else you'd like to see in my blog? Leave me a comment! |
AuthorThis is the blog post of children's author Giulietta M. Spudich. Archives
March 2023
Categories |
RSS Feed