National Book Lovers Day

 Whether your book of choice looks more like this...

Or more like this...

Put down your phone and computer, grab your favorite book(s) and beverage and settle in to enjoy National Book Lovers Day today for whatever period of time you're able.

What a treat to celebrate the love of books!

Happy 4th of July

Today marks the celebration of the birth and independence of this great nation. Enjoy your fireworks, picnics and time spent with friends and family while celebrating this great land of the free because of the brave. 

God Bless America!

Remembrance and Gratitude

 

Today we honor and remember those who have given their lives for us and the freedoms we enjoy today. Thank you, and God bless you and your families.

Organizing Time and Space

 

Hello! I want to apologize in advance for my sporadic posting, past and future. The school (and, therefore, work for me) year has just ended which typically means more writing time and focus for me. This year has had several happenings, both personally and professionally, that have taken my time, and I know I am not alone in this. As we move into the summer months, I am also moving, literally. We are building a new home (same city) and downsizing a bit which means major organizing and decluttering on my part (some might say I am a bit of a pack rat!). This move brings much excitement as well as sadness as this has been the home we have raised our kids and spent the last 20 years. I tend toward the nostalgic side these days with my youngest now technically a senior in high school (which means I am knocking on the empty nest door) when the new year dawns, so I am riding a fine emotional line these days. That being said, I LOVE the new home we are building and know we will make new memories and enjoy our family time in a new place. 

The point of my post is to say, I'm sorry if I am a bit hit and miss on my posting through these summer months. I will be checking in but have a lot of decluttering, organizing and cleaning out to do in preparation for a late summer (hopefully!) move, so my spare time will be focused on writing and editing current WIPs rather than posting. I also have to re-build my website by August which will take quite a bit of time given I am highly technologically inept.

Happy summer, enjoy these longer days and fill them with much love and productivity. I will be in touch off and on!

Happy Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there. Enjoy your day and celebrate you! To all of you missing your mom today, I'm sending many good thoughts your way.

Mindset Matters

Some time ago, a kind soul gave all of the teachers/staff at the private elementary school I work at a copy of MINDSET: THE NEW PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. I started a while ago but didn't get very far and just found it in my to-read stack the other day, so I re-started again. This book discusses how we can learn to fulfill our potential in various areas, such as parenting, business, school and relationships.

Dweck discusses the power of mindset and motivation from the perspective of two different mindsets: the fixed mindset, those that believe abilities are fixed, and the growth mindset, those who believe abilities can be developed. 

I am not yet very far and am excited to read and learn as I go, but I already find myself identifying a particular way (time will tell!) and highlighting bits of wisdom as I go.

One of the first things that really spoke to me and kicked off the highlighting was the following, "When you're lying on your deathbed, one of the cool things to say is, 'I really explored myself.'"

Wow, yes! I think (for myself anyway) it can be easy to go through life complacent and not really pushing for more...more knowledge, more understanding, more love, whatever the case may be. As I considered this and thought about it from the perspective of my writing life, it really hit home. Being a children's author is a constant state of learning, knowledge and skill development as well as persistence and perseverance. For as Dweck says, "People with the growth mindset know that it takes time for potential to flower." 

That it does. As well as determination. And grit. And failure. But then you dust yourself off and get back on the saddle, so to speak. If at first you don't succeed, try and try again or so my mom often told me growing up. And Dweck appears to agree..."When people believe their basic qualities can be developed, failures may still hurt, but failures don't define them. And if abilities can be expanded--if change and growth are possible--then there are still many paths to success."

Such is the way of the writing life. Try, fail, try, fail, try some more and, hopefully, succeed. "You have to work hardest for the things you love most." So very true, Ms. Dweck. I know, for me, this has really boiled down to believing in myself and being willing to work hard. Sometimes it works out and sometimes not, but the efforts always pay dividends in one way or another. I will leave you with one final piece of wisdom gained in this most recent reading. 

Dweck says, "...In the growth mindset, you don't always need confidence...even when you think you're not good at something, you can still plunge into it wholeheartedly and stick to it...you don't have to think you're already great at something to want to do it and to enjoy doing it."

This. Is. Big! For so long, I've struggled to put voice to being a children's author unless in the company of other authors who understood all the ups and downs. I felt inferior perhaps for a variety of reasons...I'm not exactly a block buster selling author, many think writing picture books is cute and a piece of cake, etc. It is just often hard to own it without the perceived rewards to support that claim. I'm working on this and will continue to do so, but reading Dweck's words really helped me. When confidence fails, I will live in the enjoyment and embrace the process, wherever it leads. Because I will be enjoying it wholeheartedly.

Clearly, I am enjoying this book and, while I am only on chapter 3, I certainly recommend you check it out!

Book Review: THE HATCHLING

In the spirit of Easter and the Spring season, I would like to share my most recent book review with you.

TITLE:  THE HATCHLING

PUBLISHER:  4RV Publishing, January 2021

AUTHOR:  Vivian Zabel

ILLUSTRATOR:  Jeanne Conway

PAPERBACK ISBN:  978-1-950074-15-0

HARDCOVER ISBN:  978-1-950074-16-7

 

THE HATCHLING is a heart-warming story of two best friends, Louie Duck and Gus Goose, who go about their days playing, riding waves in the lake and enjoying each other’s company. But soon comes a surprise…Louie is going to be a big brother. How will this new sibling affect Louie and Gus? THE HATCHLING explores the feelings involved in both the sibling relationship and the friendship bond in a heart-warming and relatable way all kids will understand without feeling a lesson is being taught. Ms. Zabel uses active and lively, at times alliterative, language which kids will love. Back matter sections with discussion questions and additional information about ducks compliment the text which kids and adults alike will enjoy. Ms. Conway’s illustrations are bright and fun and bring the characters and story to life. This story is perfect for kids ages 4-9 years of age.

 

To learn more about Vivian Zabel or the other Louie the Duck stories (WAVE EXCITEMENT, LOUIE FINDS A FRIEND), visit https://www.4rvpublishing.com/vivian-zabel.html or www.vivanzabel.com.

 

For more information about Jeanne Conway, visit https://www.jeanniespaintings.com.

 

DISCLAIMER:  I received a hard copy of THE HATCHLING free of charge in return for my honest review. This review consists of my honest opinions, not influenced by anyone in any way.