Just about 1 year ago, Katherine Stead committed to writing a book. Destined to spending most of her 3rd grade year in a remote learning situation, she craved more of a challenge than her online homework could provide.
For 1/2 hour every Wednesday morning (with few exceptions), this young author met with me over Zoom, and little by little, her story emerged.
Lucky Bucks! is a delightful “young reader” story about sibling rivalry and power. It’s a coming-of-age story that will resonate with anyone who has ever been a sibling and anyone who has witnessed the complex interaction of siblings. Embellished with one full-color illustration per chapter (15 chapters).
This story will leave you smiling!
Full disclosure: Katherine (Katie) is my 9-y-o great-niece! I had a blast helping her with this project and illustrating her book!
Would you please share this email with everyone with young readers? Thank you!
That is not my favorite song this year. But while I’m saddened by the flash floods, the mud slides, the fires raging out of control, the ongoing political turmoil, the conspiracy theories, the persistent pandemic, I’m reminded that the radius to the edge of my circle of influence remains a stone’s throw away. As I stand in the center of my circle, I can choose either to complain, to feel trapped, helpless, and defeated . . . or to feel inspired to put more effort into those things within my ability to control, if only slightly.
I cannot control the weather.
I cannot control our government.
I cannot control those with opinions contrary to mine.
I cannot control this dastardly virus.
I can make the area around our home safer, I can minimize my carbon footprint, and I can remember I won’t melt in the rain (even on my witchiest of days!).
I can research issues and candidates intelligently and exercise my right to vote.
I can choose not to engage with those on social media platforms whose goals are to spread unsubstantiated falsehoods and provoke hatred, fear, and anger.
I can follow the guidelines recommended by legitimate professionals to keep myself healthy and to encourage others to do the same.
I’ve been working for hours in our garden and around our home recently because the unusual amount of rain this year where we live has caused an explosion of weeds–some lovely, most not so. How I wish I could wave my witchy wand and send the downpours to surrounding fires.
Here’s my latest YouTube video in which I share our garden and the magnificent efforts my husband invested to create the perfect place for veggies to conquer weeds (with help, of course)! Dirty Hoe Days!
I choose to be inspired. How about you?
:)
Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series! (Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)
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Delighted to have my essay “A Catwalk to Nowhere” published in the Spring/Summer 2021 Edition of Tiferet Journal! I hope you’ll consider subscribing to this literary journal!
Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
I wanted to make more of the lion and lamb juxtaposition this month by sharing a Bible quote many of us “remember,” but guess what I discovered! We misremembered, or perhaps were misinformed. ‘Twas not the lion that snuggled up with the lamb, but rather, “The [big bad] wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. – Isaiah 11:6 KJV“–I found this correction on several sites including the William Branham Historical Research page.
In any case, the idea that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb is strictly secular, although Jesus and astrology are mentioned in this piece about folk wisdom in The Paris Review (do check out the gorgeous painting in this article).
Let’s blame our misremembering on several things: aging, folklore, and Daylight Saving Time. Boy, do I hate that lost hour. Isn’t it about time to feed this outdated practice to the lions?
By the way, my friend John Stewart shared his favorite comment about the lion/lamb/kid “actual” quotation: “The leopard may lie down with the kid, but the kid won’t get much sleep.”
HA! Indeed! We did experience a lionish day here in Colorado this weekend, which was not surprising–or shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone–and I did something I haven’t done in a very long time. I closed my computer, snuggled on my couch under a fuzzy blanket, and read for hours. I also made a discovery. Truman Capote is why I haven’t been discovered yet as an author. Yes, I’ll blame it all on him. How had I never read Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Three Stories before this weekend? It’s been in my book collection for decades! How am I supposed to compete with him?
It’s just not fair. What film producers do with works of art is also unfair. After reading the plot of the 1961 film starring Audrey Hepburn, I don’t think I want to watch it. If you’ve only seen the movie, I would strongly suggest you read Capote’s original.
And now, I’ll step off my soapbox and greet The Ides of March with enthusiasm! The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and wait! Are those lambs bleating in the distance?
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February is a month during which we honor Black History and consume too many “I love you, here’s a box of candy” chocolates. It’s the shortest month, even in a Leap Year. In some geographic locations, it’s the tipping-point month between winter and spring. It’s the month in which New Year’s resolutions are conveniently forgotten. It’s the month with the weird ‘r’ we rarely pronounce, and if we do, we feel just a bit pretentious. Feb ruuuuuuuuuu ary!
According to a post in The Conversation, “While January takes its name from Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings, February comes from the word februum (purification) and februa, the rites or instruments used for purification. These formed part of preparations for the coming of Spring in the northern hemisphere.” Click on The Conversation link to discover more bizarre rituals we never learned about in grade school!
Spring is coming. As I look out onto the disaster of a yard slowly sluffing off snow–the beautiful sugary coating that has heretofore hidden months of duck detritus–my thoughts take me to the garden beyond. Mike has great plans for our garden this year: more raised beds, an efficient watering system, trellises, and a place to sit while our ducks pluck bugs and weeds. I’m excited. Yes, there will be lots of work to do before we can reap our rewards, but there is joy in the planning and the anticipation.
Spring is in the air, and so is hopefulness. The planet has endured a year like no other, and there are signs of healing. I hope this newsletter finds you prepared to continue the vigilance needed to stop the spread of the persistent pandemic, and even more prepared to welcome the surprises that spring will soon reveal (soooooo much duck “stuff” under our snow)! I hope you’ve found ways to learn new things, read more books, and reevaluate how you will choose to fill your days.
And PLEASE (as always) post some positive reviews on Amazon for authors of books you’ve enjoyed, and tell your friends about them!
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Happy Valentine’s Day!
Hugs and kisses (but only with a mask)!
I’m working on a new science fiction series! (Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)
Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
I hope you might listen to this special Christmas story!
With Christmas Eve just a week and a day away, I decided to listen to the story I wrote a year ago about what Christmas day might be like in the aftermath of events in my Waterwight trilogy. It was a fun way to bring back favorite characters from the series . . . and I discovered that I missed them! Spoiler alert–if you listen, you will discover some plot details.
To prevent spoilers, you may want to read the series first! It’s available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions, and Book I is available in audiobook with narrator Sandra Murphy.
We’ve almost made it to 2021. Hang in there, my friends.
I’m working on a new science fiction series! (Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)
Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
Don’t judge me! Or do. It’s all okay. As this most insane year comes to an end, my goal is to find something beautiful and something to make me laugh every day. If I can make you laugh . . . or smile . . . too, then what I’ve done was worth doing!
Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
Check out the many multi-genre offerings from award-winning author Laurel McHargue HERE!
If you enjoy an author’s work, would you let them know by taking a few minutes to leave a review? Positive reviews on Amazon and Goodreads are important…and so very appreciated…by indie authors (like me)! Thank you!
In honor of those looking for a quick, fun, unique “escape” this holiday season, co-authors Laurel McHargue and Nadine Collier are offering their book Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle! as a free Kindle download from November 25 through November 29. They hope you will enjoy this jigsaw-inspired self-help book and will find humor and helpful suggestions for ways to cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (If you enjoy this free gift, please share with a friend and post a quick review on Amazon!)
Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
Listen to my episode to hear how a misunderstanding led to hilarity during this year’s unsuccessful hunting season!
For more stories about the magnificence of the Colorado outdoors and the struggles I’ve endured while hunting with my husband, check out my book Hunt for Red Meat (love stories)!
Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
