Jean Neff Guthrie's Blog, page 3
May 8, 2016
When I’m a Mom
5/14/2028
Dear tDiary,
It’s Mother’s Day. Mom made us promise to cook a healthy breakfast for her because she’s on a diet. No sprinkles on pancakes or doughnuts from Claire’s Bakery. I can’t wait until Father’s Day because Dad can’t get enough of Claire’s German chocolate doughnuts. Yum!
I gave Mom a card with a picture of us at my Spring ballet recital on front. She smiles extra big when I make the DigiCards for her. She says she saves all of them, so I get a kick out of giving them to her. With the card, California-skinny omelet, and flowers, I think we did a good job celebrating Mom today.
I wonder what kind of mother I’ll be when I grow up.
When I’m a Mom, I’ll Never
When I’m a mom, I’ll never ever ever . . .
1. Tell my kid when to go to bed. Since I’m almost 12 years old now, I should stay up until I’m astro tired.
2. Tell my kid what to wear to school. I’m so tired of wearing Jackie’s hand-me-downs and being told that my jeans are getting too tight. I like them that way because I like cloth close to my skin like ballet leotards. Mom just doesn’t get that.
3. Tell my kid not to play with frogs or lizards or creepy animals. Every animal deserves a chance to be a pet, no matter how ugly it is. Well, the neighbor’s ugly yappy dog might be an exception. That little thing barks like a hyena. Maybe a hyena will eat it.
4. Restrict the size of a sandcastle that my kid can build. I believe in condo castles and castle villages and castle countries.
5. Ask someone to swear on my grave. Even if I know what my kid is going when I’m dead, what am I going to do about it?
6. Not allow sprinkles on asparagus. I think the only way to eat asparagus is with sufficient sprinkles for crunchiness and tastiness. Otherwise, its just another veggie I’m supposed to eat before dessert.
7. Make my kid hide psychic impressions. Mom doesn’t let me tell anyone other than her and my tDiary about the future visions I see. Like, if I had told Mr. Wheeler that I knew he was going to mow over a hornet’s nest, maybe that would have prevented him from getting stung like astro crazy. Mom says no one will understand–except her–and that some things are better left untold. So we keep secrets. Maybe by the time I’m a mom, the world will understand past-present-future timings to a point that I’ll be normal. Not shamed or studied. Until then, I’ll trust Mom. I know she loves me and wants to protect me. She’s a great mom, even though she makes me east asparagus without sprinkles and wear Jackie’s hand-me-downs.
It will be a long time before I’m a mom. Until then, I’ll be the best daughter I can be.
That’s my blog, and I’m sticking with it.
Aria Vanir
Aria Vanir is the psychic tween protagonist in Jean Neff Guthrie’s young adult novel, “Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen,” which hit Amazon #1 Best Seller in February 2016. Visit www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com for novel highlights and purchase. Click here for VIP Access to Aria, which includes two free chapters, character map, promotions, news, fun facts, and more.
The post When I’m a Mom appeared first on Jean Neff Guthrie.
May 1, 2016
Call me Aria
5/1/2028
Dear tDiary,
Today in school this boy named Roger kept teasing me about my name. He asked if I stayed in music class all day because my name is Aria, or if my dad called me Aria because I was born an air-head. I told him my dad was a Navy SEAL. That shut him up fast. Then I went into a bathroom stall and cried. Not because he teased me about my name, but because my dad wasn’t with Mom and me when I was born. He was on a secret mission somewhere, as usual. I miss him when he’s gone, which really is the reason I got upset.
I wonder what dad would have named me if it had been up to him. Probably Samantha so he could call me Sam. Maybe Joan like Joan of Arc.
I like the way my Spanish teacher says Aria. She rolls the “r” and makes it sound so spicy. I practice rolling my “r” while I’m in the shower, but I don’t have it down yet. I’d like to go to Mexico so I can hear people say my name and play on great beaches.
I like my name. To me, it floats on air like a musical note I hear when I’m practicing ballet. I don’t know why some people have a hard time pronouncing it, but I guess not everyone grew up with a mom who overloads on classical music like mine. I think she would have named me Bach Aria if she could. Then I’d really get teased at school.
Name Teasing
Tommy has a common name. Kids tease him about his last name, Manger. They call him “Tom-babe in a manger” or “Major Manger” or “Anger Manger” when he’s mad.
I don’t know why kids tease each other about their names. Seems pointless, just to have something to say or put someone down or get back at someone for hurting you.
Nickname Peanut
Then there’s Jackie. She calls me Peanut to be bossy and mean because she’s my big sister. Yeah, I’m small, but I pack a mean kick. I have to admit that I kinda like the nickname Peanut because I think that’s Jackie’s way of showing affection. She’s def not into hugs.
Once I heard Jackie say, “Nobody messes with my Peanut!” when she learned that a girl in elementary school had cut off a chunk of my hair with scissors during art class. Jackie threatened her the next day. That girl never bothered me again.
Call me Peanut or Aria, I’ll answer. Just don’t call me “The Other Vanir Girl.” I hate that.
That’s my blog, and I’m sticking with it.
Aria Vanir
Aria Vanir is the psychic tween protagonist in Jean Neff Guthrie’s young adult novel, “Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen,” which hit Amazon #1 Best Seller in February 2016. Visit www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com for novel highlights and purchase. Click here for VIP Access to Aria, which includes two free chapters, character map, promotions, news, fun facts, and more.
The post Call me Aria appeared first on Jean Neff Guthrie.
April 25, 2016
Naming a Futuristic Technology
The young adult science fiction novel, Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen, introduces a new world of transmission technology. The heroine, a psychic tween named Aria Vanir, writes in her tDiary with her tPen and saves these personal entries by pressing her thumb on a tScan. Students, teachers, and parents collaborate on homework assignments with tBinders. Aria’s father feels like he’s next to home plate when watching baseball on the holographic TV (tHTV), which displays three-dimensional images of players into his living room. How did author Jean Neff Guthrie come up with the idea to incorporate “t” as a name for future-generation technology?
Around January 2006, Jean went on a one-day adventure to Key West, Florida. She had finished a five-year assignment as information technology project manager with Delta Technology. Jean needed to be in 5-o’clock-somewhere zone, so she used remaining flight benefits on Delta Airlines to enjoy warm weather and island attractions.
Influence of Ernest Hemingway on Technology Term
Jean’s most memorable stop in Key West was the home and museum of famous author Ernest Hemingway. Seeing how a successful writer lived and viewing the world from his studio inspired Jean to focus on finishing her first manuscript.
As Jean relaxed at an outdoor bar down the street, she thought about the biggest challenge she had with her manuscript at the time: what to name the advanced technology that the Earth characters will have in 2028. Taking another sip of her island beverage, Jean noticed a red EXIT sign on a door of a building across the street. While it was an ordinary EXIT sign, the letters seem to speak to her.
E: already used in email.
X: already used in Xbox.
I: already used in iTunes.
T: ?
Jean realized that no one had used the letter t in front of a phrase as a name or description for technology. She wrote the word tDiary on a napkin at her table and spoke it aloud. Easy to say. Odd enough to be a futuristic term. Simple enough to comprehend the meaning. Name birthed!
The mental image of the EXIT sign across the street from a Key West bar remains forever etched in Jean’s memory. Perhaps a ghost of inspiration wonders those alleys near the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum.
Jean Neff Guthrie is the author of Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen , which hit Amazon #1 Best Seller in February, 2016. Visit www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com for novel highlights and purchase. Click here for VIP Access to Aria, which includes two free chapters, character map, promotions, news, fun facts, and more.
The post Naming a Futuristic Technology appeared first on Jean Neff Guthrie.
Releasing Aria’s Anger
Aria Vanir, the tween heroine of “Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen,” learns tough lessons about repressed anger and love from a spiritually advanced alien commander, Mitushi. He, in turn, discovers the best about humans by observing Aria’s first memory as a newborn.
In Jean Neff Guthrie’s novel, Aria Vanir psychically connects with good aliens—the Gallions—and invites them to visit her in Virginia Beach. Mitushi’s mother, Queen Supreme Nashata, accepts the invitation and travels on a diplomatic journey to Earth in a superspaceship with the royal family. Before Aria is permitted meet the queen supreme, she must master a challenge. To aid Aria with her trial, the aliens gift her with the Gallion Sword of Purity.
The Sword of Purity holds white light and reveals truths. Like the Earth legends of King Arthur, only the true owner of the Sword can lift it and see its messages in the blade.
Releasing Anger
For the challenge, Mitushi instructs Aria to gaze into her sword and ask, “Show me my greatest enemy.” Rather than a monster or evil terrorist, Aria sees images concealed deeply in her subconscious. Bringing them to her conscious mind releases a horrendous flood of rage that Aria unknowingly has repressed for years.
What did Aria see and why were these images tainted with so much anger? How did Aria use her Sword of Purity from the Gallions to release her repressed rage? What was the message about love that Aria had hidden so deeply behind a fortress of fear? What was Aria’s first memory that impressed the spiritually advanced alien leader?
For the answers to these questions and more about Aria’s stories, go to www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com. The journey starts with the first word.
Jean Neff Guthrie is the author of Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen , which hit Amazon #1 Best Seller in February, 2016. Visit www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com for novel highlights and purchase. Click here for VIP Access to Aria, which includes two free chapters, character map, promotions, news, fun facts, and more.
The post Releasing Aria’s Anger appeared first on Jean Neff Guthrie.
April 10, 2016
Sun Wonders
4/8/2028
Dear tDiary,
In the Spring, I look at the Sun and wonder what it would be like to spread so much warmth across the world. Must be a powerful star to do that. I wonder how many other suns and Earth-like planets are in the universe. Do other stars make flowers grow and tan people?
Our Sun looks so small yet it does so much. We’d die without it, yet it pulls us toward it. Like, we can’t escape the Sun.
I wish we had more Sun during the winter, though. I’d like to swim in the ocean waves and build sandcastles with BFF Tommy all year. Maybe Dad will get a SEAL assignment in Hawaii. Then I probably would miss snow. I’d rather have more surf days than snow days.
When I look at the Sun, I wonder why I don’t see different colors like looking at light that’s passed through a prism. The sun is just yellow, or that’s the way we see it from Earth. I wonder what the sun looks like closer-up from Venus or Mercury.
Seems like Earth is not too close to the sun and not too far away. That’s a good thing. I would astro burn on Venus and freeze on Mars.
Another World, Another Sun
I’m grateful each day for the Sun, especially in the Spring. Mom’s roses are starting to bloom, and Dad wants to plant tomatoes tomorrow. Somewhere, maybe in another galaxy, there’s a planet with big, purple flowers that bloom each Spring when its sun shines longer during the day. I want to find this place and look at its Sun.
That’s my blog, and I’m sticking with it.
Aria Vanir
Aria Vanir is the psychic tween protagonist in Jean Neff Guthrie’s young adult novel, “Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen,” which hit Amazon #1 Best Seller in February 2016. Visit www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com for novel highlights and purchase. Click here for VIP Access to Aria, which includes two free chapters, character map, promotions, news, fun facts, and more.
The post Sun Wonders appeared first on Jean Neff Guthrie.
April 2, 2016
Seven Secrets in my tDiary
What secrets does Aria Vanir, a psychic girl from Virginia Beach, keep in her transmission diary (tDiary)? What can she not tell the rest of the world about spiritually and technologically advanced aliens, the Gallions? What secrets does she write about her own family? What are her untold desires?
Jean Neff Guthrie is the author of Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen , which hit Amazon #1 Best Seller in February, 2016. Visit www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com for novel highlights and purchase. Click here for VIP Access to Aria, which includes two free chapters, a Character Map, promotions, news, fun facts, and more.
The post Seven Secrets in my tDiary appeared first on Jean Neff Guthrie.
Seven Secrets in my tDiary
What secrets does Aria Vanir, a psychic girl from Virginia Beach, keep in her transmission diary (tDiary)? What can she not tell the rest of the world about spiritually and technologically advanced aliens, the Gallions? What secrets does she write about her own family? What are her untold desires?
Jean Neff Guthrie is the author of Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen , which hit Amazon #1 Best Seller in February, 2016. Visit www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com for novel highlights and purchase. Click here for VIP Access to Aria, which includes two free chapters, a Character Map, promotions, news, fun facts, and more.
The post Seven Secrets in my tDiary appeared first on Jean Neff Guthrie.
March 27, 2016
You had me at Unicorn
The only thing more frustrating than not being able to draw the “Mystical Aria” characters I saw in my mind was the challenge to find an illustrator who could. I went through three book cover designers who sketched my beautiful alien queen as a hideous monster. Desperate and behind schedule, I contacted a friend, Prescott Hill, who worked as a children’s illustrator. He listened to my plight and put me in touch with three other illustrators, one of whom was Michele Phillips. Her first draft of Queen Supreme Nashata’s face showed me that she was the right creative force to bring my main characters to life for “Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen.”
Although we’ve been told, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” the journey to find Michele has taught me the importance of presenting a strong, majestic image of the alien queen so readers would see the beautiful creature as I’ve envisioned her.
Because many people raved about the art work when they saw my novel, I wanted to introduce the lady behind the paint brush.
Interview with Michele Phillips
As a busy, talented illustrator in the Atlanta area, you probably have your choice of assignments. Why agree to draw science fiction characters for “Mystical Aria” series?
Michele: This story excited me, peaked my interest, and practically made me drool as an artist. Now, I’ve had many opportunities over my long career in the arts to draw some pretty fantastical things for people (and that is something I really love to do). But this one involved a beautiful and mysterious alien queen, space, iconography I adore, and—the best thing ever—a unicorn!
What Jean did not know about me yet was that I’d spent quite literally years of my youth drawing almost exclusively my most beloved things: horses and unicorns. I didn’t tell her this fact yet, and just did my best to hone in on her wonderfully rich characters. Since my “equine period,” I have drawn and painted many additional things – but my love of making horses and unicorns has stayed.
Why did you choose a career as an illustrator?
Michele: I have always known I wanted to be an artist – ever since I was old enough to grasp a crayon, I’ve been drawing and creating art. I especially love telling a story through my work, which no doubt helped guide me specifically toward my career as an illustrator. Whether it’s a single piece, or a series, or a picture book—my art is about giving a “visual voice” to that story.
Meticulous details enrich your illustrations. What special techniques do you use for your drawings?
Michele: I work in several mediums, which is usually chosen based on the desired effect or look of what I’m working on. I favor a combination of what I call “analog and digital” when it comes to illustrating for books; meaning, some parts are done “old school” by hand and scanned in, and then other parts are added with digital painting techniques.
How was your inner child impacted by working on a cover design for a young adult fantasy novel?
Michele: During the process of creating the cover art for “Mystical Aria,” I wished I could travel back in time, to visit little-girl-aspiring-artist-Michele and whisper to her, “Yes, keep drawing—and draw what you love… trust me… one day, it will pay off.”To be trusted by a gifted creator like Jean to bring her story a visual voice is a tremendous honor to me. And that little girl artist who’s still deep within me—she’s full of joy about it!
Finally, Michele, how can people learn more about your other illustrations?
Michele: Visit my web site, www.mphillipsillustrations.com, or like me on my Facebook fan page.
Jean Neff Guthrie is the author of Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen , which hit Amazon #1 Best Seller in February, 2016. Visit www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com for novel highlights and purchase. Click here for VIP Access to Aria, which includes two free chapters, character map, promotions, news, fun facts, and more.
The post You had me at Unicorn appeared first on Jean Neff Guthrie.
You had me at Unicorn
The only thing more frustrating than not being able to draw the “Mystical Aria” characters I saw in my mind was the challenge to find an illustrator who could. I went through three book cover designers who sketched my beautiful alien queen as a hideous monster. Desperate and behind schedule, I contacted a friend, Prescott Hill, who worked as a children’s illustrator. He listened to my plight and put me in touch with three other illustrators, one of whom was Michele Phillips. Her first draft of Queen Supreme Nashata’s face showed me that she was the right creative force to bring my main characters to life for “Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen.”
Although we’ve been told, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” the journey to find Michele has taught me the importance of presenting a strong, majestic image of the alien queen so readers would see the beautiful creature as I’ve envisioned her.
Because many people raved about the art work when they saw my novel, I wanted to introduce the lady behind the paint brush.
Interview with Michele Phillips
As a busy, talented illustrator in the Atlanta area, you probably have your choice of assignments. Why agree to draw science fiction characters for “Mystical Aria” series?
Michele: This story excited me, peaked my interest, and practically made me drool as an artist. Now, I’ve had many opportunities over my long career in the arts to draw some pretty fantastical things for people (and that is something I really love to do). But this one involved a beautiful and mysterious alien queen, space, iconography I adore, and—the best thing ever—a unicorn!
What Jean did not know about me yet was that I’d spent quite literally years of my youth drawing almost exclusively my most beloved things: horses and unicorns. I didn’t tell her this fact yet, and just did my best to hone in on her wonderfully rich characters. Since my “equine period,” I have drawn and painted many additional things – but my love of making horses and unicorns has stayed.
Why did you choose a career as an illustrator?
Michele: I have always known I wanted to be an artist – ever since I was old enough to grasp a crayon, I’ve been drawing and creating art. I especially love telling a story through my work, which no doubt helped guide me specifically toward my career as an illustrator. Whether it’s a single piece, or a series, or a picture book—my art is about giving a “visual voice” to that story.
Meticulous details enrich your illustrations. What special techniques do you use for your drawings?
Michele: I work in several mediums, which is usually chosen based on the desired effect or look of what I’m working on. I favor a combination of what I call “analog and digital” when it comes to illustrating for books; meaning, some parts are done “old school” by hand and scanned in, and then other parts are added with digital painting techniques.
How was your inner child impacted by working on a cover design for a young adult fantasy novel?
Michele: During the process of creating the cover art for “Mystical Aria,” I wished I could travel back in time, to visit little-girl-aspiring-artist-Michele and whisper to her, “Yes, keep drawing—and draw what you love… trust me… one day, it will pay off.”To be trusted by a gifted creator like Jean to bring her story a visual voice is a tremendous honor to me. And that little girl artist who’s still deep within me—she’s full of joy about it!
Finally, Michele, how can people learn more about your other illustrations?
Michele: Visit my web site, www.mphillipsillustrations.com, or like me on my Facebook fan page.
Jean Neff Guthrie is the author of Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen , which hit Amazon #1 Best Seller in February, 2016. Visit www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com for novel highlights and purchase. Click here for VIP Access to Aria, which includes two free chapters, character map, promotions, news, fun facts, and more.
The post You had me at Unicorn appeared first on Jean Neff Guthrie.
February 28, 2016
Leap Year Day My Way
2/28/2028
Dear tDiary,
I wonder what I’ll do tomorrow with my extra Leap Year Day. It will be a Tuesday, so I’ll have to go to school unless I catch the flu tonight and I really don’t feel like throwing up for hours. So I guess school would be more funtastic than the flu. Dad’s on a SEAL mission, so he won’t be here to bug me about doing my math homework. I wish more than anything that he’d be home instead of on a dangerous mission, but I suppose some terrorist or spy would get away if Dad’s not there. Mom wants me to practice an extra hour for the spring ballet recital since I have a lead role this year.
The Day My Way
What adventures would I want on Leap Year Day if no one were telling me what to do?
1. Go to the highest peak in Colorado and ski down it. Playing SkiMagna on tVid with Tommy always gave me an astro thrill. I’ve always wondered what it feels like in real life to go swish-swish-swish down a snow-covered mountain. Suppose I should take skiing lessons first.
2. Play underwater with the dolphins. Real dolphins out in the ocean, not the ones you pet in a big tank. I’d love to look a dolphin in the eyes. Maybe a dolphin would let me ride it. I wonder if I can reach China riding a dolphin. Wouldn’t that be astro!
3. Dance barefoot in a sunny meadow full of flowers. The meadow needs to have soft grass without any sticky thingies to hurt my feet. I feel on top of the world when I dance around with sunlight on my face. There’s not enough sunlight in our ballet studio. I’d dance all afternoon and then pick flowers to bring home for Mom and me. Jackie really isn’t into flowers or dancing. Sometimes I feel like I have an older brother, but she does like to wear Mom’s perfume.
4. Sit on the beach and watch the sunset. Then wait a little longer until the stars appear. That’s the most astro way to end any day.
That’s my blog, and I’m sticking with it.
Aria Vanir, Earth Ambassador to the Gallions
Aria Vanir is the psychic tween protagonist in Jean Neff Guthrie’s young adult novel, “Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen,” which hit Amazon #1 Best Seller in February 2016. Visit www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com for novel highlights and purchase. Click here for VIP Access to Aria, which includes two free chapters, character map, promotions, news, fun facts, and more.
The post Leap Year Day My Way appeared first on Jean Neff Guthrie.
