Kelly Bennett's Blog, page 72

The White Chick in the Room

I'm This Chick*

The children's lit world is a-buzz over diversity!Everybody’s talking about how we need diverse books and diverse writers (and to a lesser extent, diverse illustrators), and they should be . .. But nobody is talking about the white chick in the room—especially not the white Writer chick in the room. I’m that chick.

There are two parts to the diverse books issue. Both of which, as a reader, educator, grandmother & citizen I recognize. Neither of which—beyond letting my book buy...

Picasso or Cezzane-Which Are YOU?

Leonard Cohen closer to how he looked when he first wrote Hallelujah.

I'm a Cezanne. My writing bud, Marty, is a Cezanne. If you are reluctant to scratch your John Henry on the bottom right corner of your work, or click "Send",you might be one, too. But if you're not, you--lucky you--might be a Picasso.

The inherent difference between Cezanne and Picasso came to my attention by way of Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History podcast, specifically Episode 7:Hallelujah, about the creation of the...

Reasons to Believe

You may have noticed I've been AWOL (I hope you have anyway...) To put it mildly, waters in the Fishbowl are all churned up. I've drafted several posts in response to increasing,and increasingly,hateful, needless acts of violence &our political situation, but haven't published them. Why? As I was recently reminded:

The only way to vanquish hate is with positive energy, light and love.

A recent note from my friend author, Ellen Yeomans, filled me with hope and admiration. In short, did what I...

99 Days and Celebrating!

Get ready for a Fishbowl Trifecta!First, an apology, then a confession, followed by a huge celebration!

I have been sorely neglecting my faithful Fishbowl followers, and for that I am truly sorry. There are countless, endless, reading opportunities, including blogs galore, and I so appreciate you--all 3 or 7 of you--for wanting to read mine. I have heaps of reasons why I haven't been posting (and each time I don't guilt ridden me finds a few more). The simple truth is this Gardening Leave has...

On Gardening Leave

Is "Gardening Leave" the same as being "Put Out to Pasture"? If it is, should we be worried? Or happy?

Us back then!

Four years, three months ago, Curtis and I moved to Trinidad from Indonesia. Seven years before that we'd moved to Indonesia from Houston.

The day after April Fool's Day,loaded down with 6 suitcases, 2 carry-ons and lots of memories--especially of our dear Trini friends--Curtis and I boarded a plane bound for New York, and whatever comes after. . .

Why we were New York and not...

Mosquito, Don't Ya Know!

I should have known I was in for it when the 4th forms started giggling before they started reading... (read why later in the post).

Turn around is the best play!

My lastschool visit as a resident of Trinidad & Tobago was to Guayaguayare R.C School, and what a treat!Instead of me entertaining them, the students, each grade in turn from 1st to 4th form (ages 5-10), shared their stories with the other students, teachers, visitors from Bridge Foundation, and me!

Bridge Found...

They Call It "Tabanca"

"Tabanca" our friend, and Carnival costume creator, Ian,finally named what I was feeling, after a chain of text responding with a bandaged thumb.(Ian literally ground off the tip of his thumb Thursday last, while trying to wedge a rock under the rear tire of his car so he could drive up a steep hill.)

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Here's Ian hot-gluing Curtis's "Horns"pre thumb smash.

"That's what we call what you're feeling my dear:Tabanaca. It's Carnival Blues."

I do have Tabanca!...Or feel Tabanca? Or am Tabanca-ish?

Ho...

Three Little Words

If only I could make his mouth move and make what I wanted to say come out. But, what would He/I say?

We—I—joke how my husband, Curtis, has a set allotment of spoken words at his disposal each month, so he doles them out sparingly. It’s how I explain his silences. Everyone laughs when I say it. But, now, the laugh seems to be on me…

I’ve recently come to the long-delayed realization that, like Curtis, I must have a set allotment of words at my disposal, too. But…while Curtis’s is a monthly qu...

Shot Myself in the Foot with a Bullet Journal

You and I have often talked about how to maintain goals we set. And those we don’t keep…

Click on the journal for a peek at so many images of Bullet Journal pages...

This month—beginning Monday, Feb. 1st—I pledged to begin an intensive picture book study,committing to at least 5 hours a day studying/reading/writing picture books. I’ve “pledged” before, but life…especially “important” family and work commitments keep getting in the way. Sound familiar?

This study commitment will require fort...

What a Difference a Smile Makes...

All was Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows last Saturday morning when I took Bennett and Michelle to the airport. He and his mama were winging their way north to Anchorage, Alaska to join Max.

On Jan 4, Max began a new job as an "Arctic Marine Biologist" with Audubon Alaska. (I've linked it here to the announcement on the Audubon website, so click on over to read about Max and what he'll be doing.)

Michelle was due to report for her new position as Labor and Delivery RN, BSN at Providence Alaska M...