Mary Cronk Farrell's Blog, page 21

New Book on Frederick Douglass

Today I’m helping celebrate the new book Frederick Douglass For Kids by Nancy I. Sanders. Join the launch party at Nancy’s blog where she’s giving away prizes, including a free critique of your manuscript’s first page. As the bestselling, award-winning author of over 80 books for kids, I’m pretty sure she knows how to hook a reader with that first page .
Back to Frederick Douglass. He’s one of those people-  -you want a spark from his fire.

Born on a plantation, Douglass escaped slavery and helped others to freedom via the Underground Railroad. He became a bestselling author, an outspoken newspaper editor, a brilliant orator, a tireless abolitionist, and a brave civil rights leader. He was famous on both sides of the Atlantic in the years leading up to the Civil War, and when war broke out, Abraham Lincoln invited him to the White House for counsel and advice. Whew!
I wanted to know if Nancy learned anything surprising during her research on this important American leader.

I had mistakenly thought that the Civil War was just a white-man’s war, says Nancy. I thought that it was mainly fought to reunite the Union and that the issue of slavery was just kind of added on toward the end.

When war broke out between the South and the North, Frederick Douglass hurried to his newspaper office and published articles urging the nation to free the slaves forever and to enlist black troops to fight. He knew the war was about ending slavery and would not be successfully won unless both these conditions were met.

I also learned that it wasn’t until black troops were allowed to fight for the Union that the North finally began to experience victory. Black troops were very, very influential in bringing an end to the fighting. In my book, Frederick Douglass for Kids, highlight the achievements and influence black leaders and black troops had on our nation during these crucial years.

Frederick Douglass For Kids: His Life And Times With 21 Activities is great for teachers to use in the classroom. Besides the wide range of subject matter, timeline and resources for further study, the author offers ideas for bringing history alive. Kids can learn how to form a debating club, cook a meal similar to the one Douglass shared with John Brown, make a civil war haversack and experience the power of microlending.

But most importantly, kids reading this book can follow the footsteps of this American hero and see how to turn adversity into courage. 

Remember to drop by Nancy's blog for a chance to win a prize during her Book Launch Party. Tell her I sent you.

Dynamite Blog Topics

Great blogging ideas over at Writer Unboxed today. Basically, suggesting that you write about subjects that tie in with the platform for your book, which most likely you’re passionate about, and what connect with those who share your interest. 
I totally agree with this advice. But it is a bit harder for those of us who write about various topics. But I’ll take a stab at it.

Did you know WWII soldiers fighting the Japanese in the ill-fated Battle of Bataan kept themselves alive by eating python eggs? And monkey? The worst thing about eating monkey? When you dipped in the pot and your serving looked like a human body part. One soldier said later he felt like a cannibal.

Which reminds me, the United States now has its very own officially approved apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After a thorough investigation, the Bishop of Green Bay Wisconsin has ruled the Queen of Heaven manifested herself to Adele Brise in Champion, Wisconsin, October 9, 1859. (Deets here.) 
                            
Leading directly to the Battle of Lake Erie, decisive victory in the War of 1812. The reconstructed Flagship Niagara that won the battle will participate this summer in a study of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes. The three-week study from the decks of the Niagara will look at the amount of plastic present in the water, and how much plastic fish are eating.

By the way, 100-years ago this month the Schwab Clothing Company in St. Louis reduced garment worker’s wages from $12 a week to $8, rousing 300 additional employees to join the on-going strike against the company. Labor Activist Fannie Sellins traveled the country urging people to boycott Schwab clothing, until the company went out of business in October 1912.

Yes, I am writing about all these topics. Yes, I am passionate about all these topics. To win a copy of my forthcoming book—leave a comment below (before May 15, 2012) guessing which topic the book is about, and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win.
Thanks to  http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/confusion.htm for today's graphic.

Writer's Block? Try A Visit to the Dentist

I needed a relaxing break from my WIP yesterday, so I went to the dentist for a filling and a crown.
After all, 
which is worse?
A shot of Novocain, or realizing you were way too desperate when you signed that contract promising to write a novel in six months?

Seriously though, these days, a visit to the dentist really is relaxing. They put you back in a soft reclining chair with a comfy pillow. You don't even have to hold you own mouth open. They have this new apparatus, nice soft plastic, no sharp edges, that props your jaw wide, retracts your tongue and vacuums spit. Not an ounce of effort. 

The work will be trying to find a second job when the bills comes.  


You know, I used to feel badly when I needed a tooth repaired, like it was a moral failure of some kind. But now I'm thinking about how many years my teeth have been chomping away....Just think if I had car that lasted that long. Almost makes you want to brush and floss.

No, the real reason I like going to the dentist is the nitrous-oxide. For a girl who always "said no to drugs" it's quite a trip. This time I came back to reality with the entire plot for a paranormal trilogy. It's about a demon dental hygienist who tortures her victims by forcing them to choose a fluoride rinse—wintergreen, cantaloupe or bubblegum?

When I was kid I always picked the flavor I liked best. I went though several flavors before I figured out you pick the one you like least because whichever it is, you'll never enjoy it again. 

Actually, my favorite thing about getting a tooth filled—eavesdropping on the person in the next chair. I swear some people must think the dentist is their hairdresser. Talk about plot material! Too bad

So next time you need inspiration, take a break and go to the dentist. But don't imagine you'll come out with the perfect smile advertised in the office photos. If you're a writer, you're in the wrong income bracket for that.

But they say good fiction taps into universal feelings. Maybe you can turn a root canal into the next Hunger Games. 
Today's cartoon thanks to Kurt Melander and the US Air Force

Join the 2012 Non-Fiction Reading Challenge

I'm in! My goal is to read one non-fiction book [either a picture book or a longer non-fiction book for teens] each week of 2012. Those I like best, I will review on this blog. Stay tuned. Real life can be more interesting and more exciting than fiction.

Join the challenge at Kid Lit Frenzy.

Goodbye Day Job!

Today I am guest posting over at Tracy Barrett's blog Goodbye Day Job! Tracy is the author of nineteen books for young readers and her blog chronicles her last year in her day job teaching Italian at  Vanderbilt University.  
My experience is not about quitting my day job, but about withstanding the pressure to get one. It's about going for years between book contracts, making no money and still believing in myself. Hop on over to  Goodbye Day Job! to read more, and leave a comment to let Tracy know you visited.

What NOT To Do When You're On Deadline And Your Computer Fails

#1—Don't panic. Seriously, even if you've lost your entire manuscript, panicking will not bring it back, it will only cloud your thinking and confirm everything your mother-in-law says about you.

#2—Put your head between your knees and try to take slow deep breaths. Indeed, this will help you stop panicking. If you do it for several hours and your mother-in-law does not witness it.

#3—Recall what back-up provisions you've made. If you have no back-up system, go back to #1 and repeat steps one and two until able to call a friend to come and remove all sharp objects from your writing area. Then go directly to step #8.

#4—OK, you have backed up your manuscript. Do NOT let yourself feel cocky at this point. It's still possible you will have lost your most recent work.  You have a dead computer in front of you and you really need to get it working again. Do not call tech support. An hour on hold in this situation could result in severe property damage.

#5—Do not use your smart phone to google your error message and try to understand the sixteen different posts telling you how to fix the problem. If you could fix this problem, you would not be a writer, you would be a computer engineer earning a steady living at a much higher standard.

#6—Do not use your teenager's computer to "chat" with tech support. You will spend 47-minutes and 23-seconds speaking with a robot who will eventually tell you to take your computer to a store in your area and get it fixed. Plus, you will see things on your teenager's computer that you will wish you had never seen and that you will never be able to forget.

#7—Do not click on System Restore. You might think you know what the word "restore" means, but trust me, if you knew anything about system restore…well, go back and re-read #5.

#8—Do not make any important decisions in the next 24-hours. Do not hit anything with a sledge hammer. Do not throw anything out the window. Do not harm yourself or someone you love. Do not take up a new career. Do not consider taking the social security number of someone in the cemetery, committing identity theft and moving to Tahiti. Your mother-in-law will still find you, plus want to move in permanently.
 
#9—What? You forgot this is a post about what NOT to do? You thought this post would retrieve your manuscript? You thought I would tell you about some magical back-up you didn't know you had?  No.

But if you can do any of these, please get in touch immediately at 555-1212. Or leave a comment below. I'm standing by at my teenager's computer.

Thanks to WindowErrorHelps for the image.

What NOT To Do When You’re On Deadline And Your Computer Fails

#1—Don’t panic. Seriously, even if you’ve lost your entire manuscript, panicking will not bring it back, it will only cloud your thinking and confirm everything your mother-in-law says about you.

#2—Put your head between your knees and try to take slow deep breaths. Indeed, this will help you stop panicking. If you do it for several hours and your mother-in-law does not witness it.

#3—Recall what back-up provisions you’ve made. If you have no back-up system, go back to #1 and repeat steps one and two until able to call a friend to come and remove all sharp objects from your writing area. Then go directly to step #8.

#4—OK, you have backed up your manuscript. Do NOT let yourself feel cocky at this point. It's still possible you will have lost your most recent work.  You have a dead computer in front of you and you really need to get it working again. Do not call tech support. An hour on hold in this situation could result in severe property damage.

#5—Do not use your smart phone to google your error message and try to understand the sixteen different posts telling you how to fix the problem. If you could fix this problem, you would not be a writer, you would be a computer engineer earning a steady living at a much higher standard.

#6—Do not use your teenager's computer to “chat” with tech support. You will spend 47-minutes and 23-seconds speaking with a robot who will eventually tell you to take your computer to a store in your area and get it fixed. Plus, you will see things on your teenager’s computer that you will wish you had never seen and that you will never be able to forget.

#7—Do not click on System Restore. You might think you know what the word “restore” means, but trust me, if you knew anything about system restore…well, go back and re-read #5.

#8—Do not make any important decisions in the next 24-hours. Do not hit anything with a sledge hammer. Do not throw anything out the window. Do not harm yourself or someone you love. Do not take up a new career. Do not consider taking the social security number of someone in the cemetery, committing identity theft and moving to Tahiti. Your mother-in-law will still find you, plus want to move in permanently.
 
#9—What? You forgot this is a post about what NOT to do? You thought this post would retrieve your manuscript? You thought I would tell you about some magical back-up you didn’t know you had?  No.

But if you can do any of these, please get in touch immediately at 555-1212. Or leave a comment below. I'm standing by at my teenager's computer.

Thanks to WindowErrorHelps for the image.

Will Stories Be Lost When Veterans Pass On?

Welcome Author Karen Fisher-Alaniz today in remembrance of all those who served in the War in the Pacific 1941-1945.

I heard my father's WWII stories all my life. I knew he'd been stationed at Pearl Harbor a few years after its bombing.  But I wouldn't have known the details of his service, if it hadn't been for two notebooks full of letters that sat on a shelf, in my parent's home, for more than 50-years.

On his 81st birthday, he put them on my lap. I didn't know what it meant. I went home that night and cried. I cried for all the times I didn't give him time to talk, all the times I didn't listen. And although my father told me I could do what I wanted with the letters; I could throw them away or burn them, those letters were the beginning of a journey that neither of us had intended to take. I was a baby boomer and he was aging. More importantly, he'd begun to have symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. My sweet, gentle father had slowly become depressed, angry and haunted by nightmares and flashbacks.  And all I wanted to do was to help him. So I started asking questions – once a week – at a local diner.

Sometimes he had answers for me; often he did not. But we kept meeting, week after week, month after month. Slowly, a story was emerging. It was one I couldn't fathom. My father hadn't sat behind a desk during the war as he'd told me many times. My father was a top secret code breaker. He'd served on submarines and ships off of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He'd experienced a traumatic loss on one of these missions. It took nine years for the whole and true story to come to the surface.

I can't help but think about how many veterans' stories are sitting on someone's shelf or kept locked deep inside the veteran him/herself. Boxes, scrapbooks, photo albums, that haven't been cracked open in years. They hold a story waiting to be told. The veteran waits for someone to ask. What if each of us chose one person in our life and simply began asking questions? What if we opened those boxes and listened to the stories that tumbled out?

Veterans of all wars deserve our very best, and sometimes that's as simple as chatting over breakfast once a week.

Karen Fisher-Alaniz is the author of Breaking the Code – a Father's Secret, a Daughter's Journey, and the Question That Changed Everything (Sourcebooks, 2011). She can be contacted through her website at http://www.storymatters2.com.

When the Joy is Gone...

Quiet and peace fill the house. I'm in my favorite wool sweater with my cup of coffee and a Dove dark chocolate—perfect conditions for writing. But the joy is gone.

I want to enjoy writing the book, not simply anticipate the joy of having written it. But today I don't want to write the book, I wish it were finished.

Anybody else every feel like that? How do you get the joy back? Do you just plow through miserably? Take a break and do something else? Voodoo?

photo credit to flickr gjcharlet

Fall Color

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!