Jessica Haight's Blog, page 142

Monday's Riddle! Thanking You!

Hello Riddlers! Here's this week's puzzle- can you guess the theme? We're feeling it on Fairday's Blog!  ; ) ~ F

I will always make you smile- if only for a little while. A fleeting word that holds you warm, keeps your mind from any harm. So much of me I have to give- with no thing there, only love to live. The easiest feeling that you can think- though hard at times when thoughts do sink. Hold me close, teach me near- give me to those you hold so dear. In a time of need, when you're feeling low, remember me in the worlds you grow.  

What am I?

I gave you two clues!





FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Inside the 2012 UCONN Book Fair

Here are a few more highlights from the 2012 UCONN Children's Book Fair . AND, we are so excited to announce that we will be interviewing Jerry Spinelli , as well as Barbara McClintock and Leslea Newman , so be sure to check back! A great time was had by all, and the DMS is looking forward to the 2013 UCONN Children's Book Fair !

Authors Jerry Spinelli & Stephanie Robinson Amazing to meet with Jerry Spinelli ! He will be dropping by to chat with us Friday, November 23rd! 

Jerry Spinelli books: 
Stargirl
Loser
Wringer
The Library Card

Authors Patricia Maclachlan & Stephanie Robinson
It was also cool to listen to Patricia Maclachlan - her stories were wonderful and it was great to get a chance to meet her in person! She is hilarious, and her family is quite a cast of characters. And, for all of you dog lover's out there, this author is for you!

Patricia Maclachlan Books: 
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Skylark
Waiting for the Magic


Patricia Maclachlan talks about her experience as a writer
Bryan Collier talks about his journey to becoming an artist
Authors Leslea Newman & Stephanie Robinson It was also really nice to meet Leslea Newman. Margo cannot wait for me to review this book- she LOVES the title- The Boy Who Cried Fabulous







Leslea Newman Books: 

Hatchiko Waits
Fat Chance
Felicia's Favorite Story
Too Far Away To Touch


HAPPY READING! ~ F & L

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

The DMS Wants to Know!

Monday's riddle set us on a quest for the truth behind the lie, and Lizzy's review of Truth Teller by Kurt Chambers gave us a glimpse into a magical snow globe that transported us into a new world. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we wanted to show all of you how much we appreciate your comments, and that's why we are a participating in the Gratitude Giveaway Hop , which will be running until November 25th- so, be sure to enter for your chance to win a copy of Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm , a signed hardcover of the spooky middle grade novel The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow by J. Haight & S. Robinson, plus a bonus $10 gift card to Amazon. com . Thursday, it was great to share a truth and a lie on Top of the Heap , and Friday, we were excited to learn about Kurt Chambers , who stopped by to tell us the truth about his story. Today, we thought we would put you guys to the test. Here are two truths and a lie about each of us- can you guess which is which?

The DMS wants to know: Which is the truth and which is a lie? 

We told you ours. Now, let's hear yours!



Fairday:

1) I love the color red
2) I like hamburgers
3) I am really good at math

Lizzy:

1) I can wiggle my ears
2) I am a morning person
3) I love roller coasters, but am afraid of heights







FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Author Interview with Kurt Chambers

The DMS was lucky enough to interview  Kurt Chambers , author of the middle grade novel  Truth Teller . Lizzy recently reviewed this magical story, and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours! We are excited to learn a little bit more about the story behind the story. So, without further ado... take it away, Kurt! 


What inspired you to write Truth Teller? 

For about six years or so, I worked with children as a volunteer. I helped run a Brownie pack at the local church for Girl Guiding UK. It was the most fun time of my life. Working with kids is a real blessing. This is without doubt one of the biggest inspirations for writing children’s books.

How long did it take you to write Truth Teller?


I started writing this series about eight years ago. There are three books in the series so far. On average, it took me about two years to write each novel. But when I started, I knew absolutely nothing about writing. I couldn’t even read very well. So, I had to start from the very bottom and learn how to write properly, then edit my stories to a publishable standard. It was a mighty challenge.


What are some of your favorite books from childhood? Were there any specific authors who inspired you?


My mum introduced me to fantasy stories when I first became interested in reading. I used to struggle to read them though, not being the best reader in the world. But one author really captured my attention, Terry Brooks , with his Sword of Shannara series . I fell in love with fantasy. I would say he was my biggest inspiration.


Where did you come up with the characters Charlotte and Middleton?

That’s an interesting question. My main character, Charlotte, was based on a real life person. With no experience of writing, I thought if I based my character on someone real whom I knew very well, it would be easy to know how they would react and what they would say in any given situation. Middleton is a completely made up character, as are all the other characters in the story.
If you could befriend a character from any of your books, who would you befriend? Why?
Well, I am already friends with my main character, Charlotte, but if I had to choose one of my fictional characters, I think it would have to be Elderfield. He’s a young elf with a sense of morals that you would love to think everyone had in the real world. Any parent would be proud to have him as a son.
Where do you like to write? Do you listen to music while you are writing?
I wrote most of my stories sitting in my car during my tea breaks at work. Just me and my thermos flask of tea (I’m English) and my sandwiches. I work on a building site as a carpenter for my day job. I like solitude and complete silence when I write. I can never get this at home in my crazy household.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
That’s an easy question. I would love to live in Devon, south England. Preferably beside the sea. I fell in love with a town called Teignmouth, the oldest seaside town in England, by all accounts. It’s such a beautiful part of the world.
There is definitely a bad guy or two in Truth Teller. Who is your favorite villain (from a book or movie)?
Would I sound like an egomaniac if I said it was a character from my own series? In Truth Teller, you get to briefly meet a horrid little dwarf called Blaine. He only plays a small part in the first book, but he makes an appearance in all three books. In book two, The Wrath of Siren, he plays a much bigger part. He’s one of my favourite characters in the story. He makes me laugh. I really enjoyed creating him. He’s one of these people you love to hate.

Where can we purchase your books?
Truth Teller in Paperback: Createspace ☞ Amazon US ☞ Amazon UK 
Truth Teller in Kindle: 
Smashwords ☞ Amazon US ☞ Amazon UK ☞ Barnes & Noble 

☞ As Truth Teller is now released in paperback, I’m doing a special promotion to celebrate this and would like to offer all the readers of this post a chance to download a free copy of my story in e-book format.
*To download a free copy, please visit: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/119775Enter this coupon code for your free copy: QB92W

Connect with this author:☞ Author sit e  ☞  Blog  ☞  Twitter  



Read the reviews! 














FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Top of the Heap!

The answer to Monday's Riddle was the truth and a lie, and Lizzy's review of Truth Teller by Kurt Chambers gave us a sneak peek into a magical snow globe, pointing us in the right direction towards adventure. We are so grateful for all of you readers and writers that visit with us each week, and we are participating in the Gratitude Giveaway Hop to show our appreciation- enter for your chance to win a paperback edition of Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm , a signed hardcover edition of the spooky middle grade The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow by J. Haight & S. Robinson , plus a bonus $10 gift card to Amazon.com . Friday, we are excited to learn a few truths about Kurt Chambers , who will be stopping by to chat with us. Saturday, we are looking forward to hearing some of your stories on The DMS Wants to Know , and Sunday, we will be featuring some of the amazing authors we met up with at the UCONN Children's Book Fair , including: Jerry Spinelli & Patricia Maclachlan. So, be sure to check back!

Revealing the truth behind a lie can be quite unsettling. Everyone has told a lie now and then- some of them big; some, just the little, white kind. But, either way, things always get sticky. The problem with a lie is its ability to grow bigger and stretch way farther than first imagined. You can never anticipate everyone involved, and you always have to watch what you say in order not to get caught, which inevitably happens in the end. Most likely, it was you who betrayed yourself. Today, we thought we would share a truth and a lie with you!

This week's top of the heap: A truth and a lie...

Fairday: I'm going with a truth- just because I can't compete with Lizzy's hilarious anecdote. So, here is a truth about me: I absolutely love the show Xena. I used to watch it all the time, and would be glued to the television when there was a Xena marathon on. I never told anyone that it was one of my favorite shows, except Lizzy. What I liked about the show was that the mythology was somewhat accurate, and Zena was a warrior princess, who was initially evil but turned to the powers of good. She was amazing with her chakram, and I loved her relationship with Aries, as well as her connection to Hercules. I seriously miss watching it! So, here's my tribute to Xena! eiiii, eiiii, eiiii, eiii!  ~ F




Lizzy: When I was little, my grandma wanted to see Pinocchio with me when it came out. She made me promise that I wouldn't see it with anyone else. I was so excited about the movie that I couldn't wait, even though I told her that I would go with her. So, we're sitting in the theater, watching Pinocchio, and I say, "Watch out, Grandma- this is the scary part!" lol- she looked at me and said, "I thought you said that you didn't see this movie yet?" Caught in my own sticky web! At least my nose didn't grow a foot long, but I definitely had some explaining to do! Talk about irony ; ) ~ L



FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Gratitude Book Giveaway

Thanks to  I Am A Reader, Not A Writer  for hosting the Gratitude Book Giveaway Hop!  Fairday's Blog!  is featuring a giveaway prize pack, including a paperback edition of the middle grade novel Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm , a signed, hardcover edition of the middle grade novel, The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow by J. Haight & S. Robinson, plus a  $10 gift card to Amazon.co m. 

The Gratitude Giveaway Hop will run from November 15th-25th, so, join in the fun! This is a huge hop, and there are lots of delightful blogs participating, giving away all sorts of books and other fabulous prizes.    

Open to US and International : ) 

☞ Be sure to visit the hopping blogs! (click here for the list)

Enter to win:1) Follow Fairday's Blog!2) Leave a comment and let us know: 
What simple thing are you grateful for every day?3) Fill out the Rafflecopter form below 

Thanks for popping over! We hope that you will stay and visit with us for a while. Below, you will find an overview of the topics that we discuss on  Fairday's Blog!  They range from riddles, to reviews, to just things that we like to shout out about : )  
It is 1935, and eleven year-old Turtle’s only parent, her mama, has found a live-in housekeeping job that doesn’t allow children. Luckily, Turtle is strong and doesn’t flinch when her mama tells her she is sending her to go and live with an aunt she has never met down in Florida. Turtle is tough and doesn’t cry; she has been let down too many times before... read more of our review !


☞ Read the reviews☞ Preview the book





The Begonia House keeps its secrets. Everyone knows that. Everyone, that is, except for clever eleven-year-old Fairday Morrow, whose family has just moved in. Being the Senior Investigator in the Detective Mystery Squad, more commonly known as the DMS, she’s ready to uncover the mysteries hidden within the strange manor. As the investigation gears up and the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, the DMS enters into a world where anything is possible, and the danger is most definitely real. Follow along with Fairday and her friends, as spooky meets lovely in this twisting tale of dark secrets and hidden pasts.   Read the first seven chapters 

☞ Read the reviews!
☞ DMS Home Site 



What Fairday's Blog! is all about...
Fairday's Riddles  are posted on Mondays- they can be written about anything and everything, all at the same time!
Lizzy's Book Reviews  are posted on Wednesdays. Lizzy has read just about every middle grade novel out there, and she loves to share her thoughts and, of course, her opinions.

The Top of the Heap  is a post we put up on Thursdays. We thought it would be fun once a week to put up two things that we appreciate and have been thinking about during the week.

Margo's Musings  Fridays belong to Margo, Fairday's little sister. This post focuses on reviewing local children's book authors, which we follow up with an  Author Interview .

The DMS Wants to Know  was a post we came up with for Saturdays because when we get together to hang out on the weekend, we always chat about different situations and ideas that are floating around in our brains and we like to listen to what other people think about them- some of the comments we've gotten have been absolutely fascinating!


a Rafflecopter giveawayFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Will Charlotte Tell the Truth?

When Charlotte walks into the shop tucked into the alley she is hoping to buy trinkets for her friends from her beach vacation. She doesn’t expect the strange encounter she has with the shopkeeper, but she is thrilled with the ancient looking snow globe that he gives her. Best of all it didn’t cost her anything. All she had to do was agree to tell the truth! Everything changes when she looks into the glowing orb and finds herself transported to a different realm. Danger lurks around each corner and all she knows is that she is far from home. Charlotte has to put her trust in Middleton, an elf who finds her and offers to take her where it is safer for her. There she learns that there is only one way home and it will involve a treacherous journey. Making matters worse, Charlotte has lost her glowing orb. What will happen if it falls into the wrong hands? Will she be able to get back to her world without the globe? Is there any way to outsmart the evil forces that are after her and her companions? Does Charlotte have the courage to do what is necessary? Read this fantastic fantasy book to find out what happens!
Truth Teller by Kurt Chambers is a delightful story. I liked Charlotte because she is strong and inquisitive, which are two character traits that help her in the realm that she finds herself in. There are times when she complains, but who wouldn’t! I was curious from the moment she walked into the odd shop, and I wasn’t so sure Charlotte should accept the gift from the shopkeeper. Knowing she had to tell the truth made me nervous because people tell lots of white lies, and I didn't know what would happen to her if she wasn’t honest. Since this book was written in the UK there were a few terms that I wasn’t familiar with, but I could easily figure out what they meant as I read. The friends she meets are so kind and the scary beings are perfectly evil, which was a balance that kept me guessing. I think that kids in fourth grade through eight grade would really like this book- and of course, older kids and adults would also find it to be an interesting read. Fantasy lovers will like traveling to a new world! This was a fun-filled adventure that kept me entertained and turning the pages. Although the book came to a satisfying conclusion, the end makes me think that Charlotte may be taking another trip back to the strange realm. I hope so, because I would love to read another book about her. This book just came out in print this month! Look at the amazing cover!

Has anyone else read Truth Teller by Kurt Chambers? What are your favorite fantasy books?
Happy Reading!

~LFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Answer to Monday's Riddle! I Cannot Tell A Lie!

Fabulous guessing everyone! Yes, this week we are on the topic of truth and lies. Lizzy's review will be an honest one, and we are looking forward to telling you a story or two on Top of the Heap . Friday, we have something tricky up our sleeves, and Saturday, we can't wait to hear the truth on The DMS Wants to Know . Sunday, we will be featuring a few more amazing authors from the UCONN Children's Book Fair , including Jerry Spinelli and Patricia Maclachlan . The book giveaway for Powerless by Matthew Cody will be running until November 25th, and we have a special giveaway for all of you wonderful readers coming up soon, so be sure to check back! See you all around the book block ; ) ~ F

Can you tell one from the other? It all depends on the signs from another. Just a few words that twist the right path astray, leading you off a different way. But, what of the other? It's that true, honest line- a choice sometimes hard, but lessens the crime. Which will you hear? What would you want? To know what is real or merely a stunt? In the world that we live in, under one sky- you must learn the difference between the ___and a ___. 

What are the missing words? Answer: The truth and a lie





FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Monday's Riddle! Can You Tell?

Hello Riddlers! It's that time again- can you guess the theme? I seriously try NEVER to get caught in this tangled web. It just keeps getting sticker and stickier...  ~ F

Can you tell one from the other? It all depends on the signs from another. Just a few words that twist the right path astray, leading you off a different way. But, what of the other? It's that true, honest line- a choice sometimes hard, but lessens the crime. Which will you hear? What would you want? To know what is real or merely a stunt? In the world that we live in, under one sky- you must learn the difference between the ___and a ___. 

What are the missing words?  ; ) 

I  gave you a clue!

* Blogger is being a little naughty today! If you cannot comment on this post, please leave your answer on Fairday's Facebook Fan Page. We would love to hear your guess! ~ F & L 





FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

The DMS Wants to Know! Where is Your New World?

Our Saturday post is on Sunday this week! Yesterday, we were lucky enough to attend the UCONN Children's Book Fair . It was awesome, and we were excited to meet some really amazing authors and illustrators.

Monday's Riddle  set us on course for the New World, and Lizzy's review of Blood on the River: 1607 James Town by Elisa Carbone  took us back into the scene. We told you about a couple of our favorite stories regarding the early settlers and Native Americans on Top of the Heap . And Friday, Matthew Cody came by to chat about his middle grade book Powerless - and, there's still time to enter the book giveaway for a signed copy of Powerless - this giveaway runs until Sunday, November 25th!

UCONN Children's Book Fair 2012: Walking into worlds of stories... Listening to the authors and illustrators speak about their experiences was really inspiring, and hearing about how their worlds opened up to their dreams was fascinating.

Next Sunday, we will be featuring some of the other wonderful authors we were able to meet, including Jerry Spinelli and Leslea Newman , so be sure to check back!

Barbara McClintock Barbara McClintock told us about how, when she was nineteen and wanted nothing more than to be a children's illustrator, she called up Maurice Sendak to ask his advice. At the time, she lived in a very small town in North Dakota and had no idea how to go about becoming an illustrator. She dialed up Maurice, who lived in Connecticut, and asked him what she should do. How brave! His advice to her was to move to New York and start bringing her portfolio around to art directors. So, she did! Talk about embarking upon a new world! She took only a few possessions and went into the city. Once there, she piled all of her work into a basket and started knocking on the doors of art directors. After awhile, people started to recognize her as the basket lady, and she found some interest in her work. The rest is, of course, history!


Leave Your Sleep
Bryan Collier spoke about his life growing up with his brothers, and how all he wanted was to be a basketball player. Until, one day, he found himself in an art class and realized that that was his purpose. He moved into his grandmother's house and worked on his art projects. While living there, he noticed that she made these beautiful quilts that had landscapes and pictures sewn into them. He didn't understand why he wanted to make the art that he was doing- it just felt right. He moved away from his family and embarked upon the adventure of finding someone who wanted to work with him. Bryan said that he went one day a week for seven years knocking on doors, until someone answered. Again, the rest is history.

Stephanie Robinson & Bryan Collier Bryan spoke about the book, Dave the Potter by Laban Carrik Hill , which he did the illustrations for. Dave was a slave that lived 200 years ago and made over 40,000 clay pots. What was so special about Dave? He wrote poems on the pots that he crafted, signed and dated them- which, at the time, was forbidden and could have cost him his life.


Bryan spoke about the "silent gift" that was passed on to him by his grandmother, and talked about how these "silent gifts" are the foundations of how we craft our own worlds, and navigate towards the new worlds that are out there, just waiting for us to explore!

Dave the Potter
The DMS wants to know: What new world would you like to settle into? 

We'll tell you ours, if you tell us yours! 

Here are a few shots of these artists at work : )   

Barbara McClintock sketches Top Cat Bryan Collier talks about his art - Original piece from the book Barack Obama

This Hedgehog is for you Petty : )
FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED