S.J. Musgraves's Blog: FRANKLY, THAT'S GEEK!
July 24, 2013
Parry Pretty, Awards, and Hollywood
Welcome to Hollywood…the book festival that is! Each year this festival puts the works of authors in the hands of producers in the entertainment industry. Here producers look for fresh ideas, new talent, and possible future connections with up-and-coming (dare I say) “Stars”! Amongst the winners, Parry Pretty and the Eight Realms landing the title of Honorable Mention in the Children’s Book category. And who said Hollywood was a heartbreaker!
Get the complete list of winners here!
Check out Parry Pretty and see if you get Caught in the Slipstream of Time!
July 1, 2013
Readers’ Favorite Book Award Finalist
Yep, you heard right! Book one of the Parry Pretty and the Eight Realms series, Caught in the Slipstream of Time, is one of six finalists in the Reader’s Favorite Book Award contest! This contest is the fastest growing book review and award contest site on the Internet and has been the recipient of the “Honoring Excellence” and “Best Websites for Authors” awards by the Association of Independent Authors. Readers’ Favorite proudly review for renowned authors and publishers like James Patterson, Nicholas Sparks and David Baldacci. Caught in the Slipstream of Time is a finalists in the Children’s Fantasy/SciFi category. The winner will be announced September 1, 2013. Get the complete list of finalists here.
Interested in knowing what Caught in the Slipstream of Time is all about? Check it out here!
June 10, 2013
Parry Pretty Gets a Nod From the New York Book Festival
Book one of the Parry Pretty and the Eight Realms series, Caught in the Slipstream of Time, takes the prize of Honorable Mention, in the Young Adult category, in the 2013 New York Book Festival.
YOUNG ADULT
WINNER: Sweetest Taboo – Eva Marquez
RUNNER-UP: Hard Magic – John Caruso
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Charlie Dill: The Cornerstone Treasure – Greg Glaser
Grounded for Good – Dawn Daria
Shadowland – The Legend – Johanna Kern & Roy Fitzsimmonds
Parry Pretty and the Eight Realms – S. J. Musgraves
Dangerous Blessings – J. Arvid Ellison
We Are Savages – Jessie Atkin
Sara’s Turn of the Century – Mary Prince
Ghost of Johanna – Susan K. Earl
The Jericho River: A Magical Novel… – David Carthage
See all categories here.
March 27, 2013
Readers’ Favorite Book Review
Reviewed by Alexander Rigby for Readers’ Favorite
“The thing I liked most about the first adventure of Parry Pretty was how original it was. I was astounded by the vast quantity of characters and situations that S.J. Musgraves puts her main character into…it is a well-written introduction to the world of the eight realms. When I came to the final pages of the story, I wanted to know what was going to happen to Parry Pretty next.”
Read the entire review here.
March 8, 2013
Thanks!
Hey there all you Pretty fans!
Just wanted to say thanks for the continued support as we all take the journey with Parry through the Eight Realms. Your enthusiasm is what makes me get up in the morning and head straight for my writing room! Also, I wanted to give a big welcome to all the new subscribers who joined my newsletter mailing list. Your response was overwhelming! Be looking for your giveaway prize in the mail!
And for those of you who missed the giveaway, no worries. Sign up for my newsletter today (located on the right sidebar), and get ready for the next giveaway, coming soon! There is always a lot of news packed in those newsletters about my latest books, contests, and, of course, giveaways. So, join in the fun!
Lost in the Realm of Possibilities,
S J Musgraves
March 1, 2013
Giveaway Starts Today!
(Giveaway limited to US, Canada, and UK)
Grow Plants on Cotton Balls
Parry Pretty here!
I’m starting to feel a little cooped up inside, due to the cold weather. Even with its secret passages to other realms inside the Pretty mansion, a logical girl, like myself, can get so bored exploring these hallways. So, I thought I’d try a cool science experiment instead, while I wait for spring!
Here’s All You Will Need:
Jar or clear plastic drinking cup
Water
Seeds
Cotton balls
Cloth or paper towel
Elastic band
Here’s What You Do:
1. Pour about 0.25 in of warm water into the jar. That’s just about enough water to coat the bottom of the jar with a thin liquid layer.
2. Soak cotton balls in warm water, and then gently squeeze most of the water out.
3. Add two layers of moistened cotton balls to the container.
4. After about 10 minutes, pour as much water out of the container as you can.
5. Scatter your chosen seed on top of the cotton balls. In this case, I chose to use Black-eyed Susan flower seeds. The seeds are very small. I don’t think a big seed, like a sunflower seed, would work as well, but–hey! You’re the scientist. Prove me wrong.
6. Cover the top of the container with fabric and fix it in place with an elastic band. This helps to keep the air and seeds moist.
7. Put the container in a warm cupboard or dark place. I didn’t think my mom would mind me stashing my science project in her kitchen cabinet.
8. I checked back in a week, and look what I found…sprouts!
9. As soon as the seeds sprout, place the container where it will get plenty of sunlight. Be sure to check your seed packet for more details.
10. After a few days, remove the cover. It’s probably best to gradually put the seedlings in the sun longer and longer each day.
11. Be sure to keep the cotton balls moist, but not under water, and enjoy your spring flowers!
February 15, 2013
Suck an Egg Into a Bottle
Parry Pretty here!
Today, I thought I’d show you a fun science project. ”Science isn’t fun!” you say. Well, try sucking an egg into a bottle first, and then we’ll talk.
Here’s All You Will Need:
A hard-boiled egg
A large bottle with a top slightly smaller than the egg
A strip of paper
A box of matches or a lighter
An adult to supervise (Safety in numbers, I always say! Plus, you can show off how scientifically cool you really are to a crowd!)
Here’s What You Do:
1. Peel the shell off of the egg. Simple enough.
2. Grab a strip of paper, any paper, about 2 inches wide (5 cm) and 6 inches long (15 cm). Then fold in half.
3. Light the paper and quickly drop it into the bottle.
4. Now, don’t blink because this part happens quickly! Immediately place the egg on top of the bottle, and watch the magic happen.
The flames will soon go out after the burning paper has heated the air and used up all of the oxygen. When the air cools, the egg will be “sucked” in. In all actuality, the egg is pushed in by the extra air pressure on the outside.
Going…
…going…
…gone!
Side note: If you want to get the egg out of the bottle–only if–be sure to shake out the burnt paper first. Then blow hard into the bottle. Keep blowing while you tilt the bottle until the egg rests on the opening. Take your mouth away while the egg shoots out. If that doesn’t work for you, just fill the bottle up with water and shake it violently. That always works.
February 8, 2013
How To Build an Air Cannon
Parry Pretty here!
As you all know, I’m a young inventor and love to build and create things. My inventions have helped me out of a jam, or two, while I’ve been trapped inside the Eight Realms. So, kids (and big kids alike), I thought I’d start sharing with you how to create some fun inventions. Today, let’s start with how to make your own air cannon. True, it might not save your life, but it’s fun to use, especially if you like to annoy your younger brother, or even a co-worker.
Here’s all you will need:
A bucket or large can
A plastic bag
A larger rubber band
Dirty table to work on (optional)
Here’s what you do:
1. Grab your bucket. I found an empty plastic plant container for my bucket. It kindly came with five holes already cut out of the bottom. Since I only needed one hole, I covered the others with tape. If your bucket doesn’t have any holes, cut one on the bottom. The size of the cut does make a difference. If you make an air cannon with a smaller hole, like I did, the gust of air will be stronger.
2. Cover the top of your bucket with a plastic bag. I used a plastic bag from the grocery store. It doesn’t look like much yet, but just wait for it!
3. Now use the large rubber band to hold the plastic in place. I found one of my mom’s workout headbands that will work just perfect for this job! I’m sure she won’t mind. Make sure you stretch the bag tightly so that it looks like the top of a drum. If one rubber band isn’t enough, use more.
4. Now you’re ready to play! Pound on the plastic top of your bucket. You should be able to feel the air coming out through the bottom of your bucket. Now, aim your air cannon at different objects and see if you can knock them down.
5. Okay, so try knocking something cooler over. Anyway, you get the idea.
Experiment away! This, of course, is the basics, but the sky is the limit! You can put flour in the cannon and turn someone into a ghost, or build a stronger cannon by using compressed air, just like they do in the movies for special effects. Whatever you do, have fun, be safe, and keep on building your ideas!
January 18, 2013
Jocks Need Geeks
So get this, Pretty Geeks, turns out that gizmos and gadgets are helpful to–yes!–even jocks!
Gone are the days when it wasn’t cool to tinker. Now techy toys come in handy! Take this X Patch (high-tech wearable patch) and X Guard (high-tech mouthguard) for example. If any of you have watched this years football season (and I assure you true geeks, such as myself, won’t hold it against you if you have…maybe), you’d know that this gadget has come to light just in time! With all of the concussions that have occurred this season, like the “seeing stars” hit Washington Redskin’s quarterback Robert Griffin III (RG3) took back in October, it’s no wonder the sport has turned to science for some help. So, what’s so special about this mouthguard?
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In a nutshell, the sensors placed inside of the mouth piece, with a little help from Microsoft technologies, computes the impact of a hit and sends a report immediately to a coach and health professional on the sidelines who then can judge if the player is seriously injured.
Frankly, that’s geek! So, keep on tinkering, keep on toying, and perhaps one day you too can say, “RG3 is using my gadget on the football field!” Oh, and maybe don’t tell anyone that I know who RG3 is. Let’s just keep that our little secret.
Geek out.
Parry Pretty
(Photo: menlopark-atherton.patch.com)
FRANKLY, THAT'S GEEK!
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