Jessica Haight's Blog, page 34

Fairday's Riddle: Suspenseful Lines...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? One of my favorite artists, and the master of mystery!

Margo's Musings: Cooking Up Words...

My little sister, Margo, loves birds. We have fun as a family watching them in our backyard. So many varieties to admire! She loves to try to imitate them, so I wasn't surprised when she came home from the Ashpot Library with Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina. I'm sure the bird on the cover caught her eye.

In this book, Mia’s grandmother comes to live with them in the city. They’ll be sharing a bedroom, but they have trouble communicating. Mia doesn’t know how to say what she wants to say in Spanish, and her grandmother (abuela) doesn’t know many words in English. They begin doing little things every day to help them talk to each other. When they’re cooking, the grandmother will say the Spanish word for an ingredient and Mia repeats it, and then says the English word for each item. When Mia remembers what her class did to help a new student who was learning English, she puts words on top of objects all around the apartment so her grandmother will know how to say them in English. To make her grandmother feel more comfortable, Mia asks her mom to buy a parrot so her grandmother will be reminded of the one in her garden back at her old home. The parrot is a wonder and repeats words it hears Abuela and Mia say to each other. Another way for the two to learn to understand each other!

This was a fun story that will help people learn some words/phrases in Spanish or English. The illustrations are bright and interesting. Even more exciting- Margo and I learned some Spanish words!
Has anyone else read Mango, Abuela, and Me? Or have you read another book by Meg Medina? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
~ F
FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Riddle Answer: Message Received!

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! A tricky riddle this week. Friday, Margo has a children's picture book she wants me to tell you about, so stay tuned! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

Follow eight easy steps, and you'll know the deal.
First, you must want to share what you feel.
Second, cast spells into code.
Third, transpose them for upload.
Fourth, tune into the right vibe.
Fifth, watch out for morpheme jive. 
Six, reception will prevail.
Seven, decipher symbol tale.
Eight, meaning is transferred.
Congratulations! You've conjured thought into word.

What am I referring to? Answer: Communication!



Fairday's Riddles: Volume I  Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations Available in all e-book formats FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Fairday's Riddle: Eight Steps to Breakdown...

Hello, Riddlers! It's good to be back. Can you guess our theme this week? This is a useful tool to uncover the bare bones of a matter, but mysterious when tangled up in its roots. ; ) ~ F

Follow eight easy steps, and you'll know the deal.
First, you must want to share what you feel.
Second, cast spells into code.
Third, transpose them for upload.
Fourth, tune into the right vibe.
Fifth, watch out for morpheme jive. 
Six, reception will prevail.
Seven, decipher symbol tale.
Eight, meaning is transferred.
Congratulations! You've conjured thought into word.

What am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer. 

I gave you a clue!

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Plotting Scenes In Living Lines

Hello, Readers! We're on Spring Break this week. Fairday's Riddles and Lizzy's Book Review will be back. Writing riddles and book reviews keeps our skills sharp, but so does using visualization to develop story ideas. Find out how our process works, and experience the magic of a pencil! ~ DMS 
Stories have the power to transport readers into another world, but books aren't written by magic. Lines crafted by hands, head, and heart are at the core of the spell. 

Neil GaimanA quote I like to share with students I talk to about the Fairday Morrow series is from one of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman . He says, "Whatever you do, make good art." 

This resonates with me, because as creators making art is our main business. Everything is art, and it's subjective, so all art is good. 

Enjoying the process of your work is the key to connecting with the world around you. 



The most important step in being creative is to square off a space in your life to do it. It sounds easy, but it's not. Every single thing will try to stop you. But, if you want to take your project seriously, you must toss aside external distractions and sink into your work.
Me drawing myself drawing myself on my deck at home.





























Brilliant Artists
If your goal is to be a professional illustrator, then it's important to follow the guidelines of industry leaders who have a solid understanding of the techniques and tools used to develop visual images. In this case, you'll need to listen and learn to pursue your passion and build a portfolio for your artwork.


Illustrators who inspire me
Disrespectful Summons
Edward Gorey
Edward Gorey House



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Illustration from STARDUST by Neil Gaiman
Charles Vess Green Man Press



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             Unity

David SanAngelo
DavidSanAngelo.com




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                What Is Meditative Drawing?

I am not an illustrator by any means. I have no professional training and I don't know much about the ins and outs of the art business. Being on the other side as an author, I know it's a challenging career choice, and I'm inspired by illustrators with the tenacity to work in this field. I also feel they don't get enough credit for their contribution to story magic. It's tough to get lines perfect with words, but really tricky with pencils and paint brushes.

In meditative drawing there are no rules, and nothing you need to learn. It's about being you. I have my own weird rituals that go along with my practice, and if you plan to try this, you should make some up too. Once you're in your quiet spot, take a deep breath, let go, and tune into your internal vibes.


I enjoy lighting tea lights, setting up crystals, and smelling sage. These things play a part in my drawing sessions. I used to listen to music, but now it's mostly nature sounds. 

Here's a soundtrack I enjoy. 
lol, I am old timey. :)

Toolkit for Meditative Drawing
1. Fresh Ticonderoga #2 pencils
2. Drawing board & paper
3. Awesome pencil sharpener
4. Good vibes and headphones
5. Wild imagination

There are two types of drawing techniques I use. The first is what I call a disciplined drawing. This art is thought out and planned to visualize a scene in a story I'm writing. With this approach, I'm trying to make my lines neat and precise, without too much erasing. Though, as I develop my personal style, I have been incorporating more of the second technique I use, which involves the eraser on a higher level. I'll get into that mysterious part later.
The Morrow family moves into the Begonia House.When Stephanie and I discuss a new chapter in the Fairday Morrow series, I'll take ideas from our conversation and patch them together to create a scene on paper. I'm only drawing for myself and Stephanie, so there's no pressure. Once you stop being concerned about whether or not someone likes your work, it only matters if you're satisfied with it, and that's why meditative drawing is freeing.


Ruby Begonia sees what the high-heeled sneakers can do.Nooks and crannies of the story are revealed when I sketch out our ideas. The drawing may even change the structure of a chapter, depending on who or what pops into the picture.


Mysterious box of things in the secret third floor room.We use talking about our ideas, and then looking at the drawings as a way to visualize stories we write together. I ended up illustrating every chapter in The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow and most for Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library. 


Lizzy arrives at the Begonia House in style.The Fairday Morrow books have amazing professional illustrators, but my artwork was a unique part of our journey. I enjoy the process, and I'll continue to illustrate the next books in the series.

We made vanity copies of The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow with my drawings. It was fun, and it's cool to have one of these very limited editions, though I would NOT want anyone to read it now. Words wrangled in line by professional editors are an important element in casting story spells. 






Fairday Morrow Books The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow illustrator, Roman Muradov Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library illustrator, David SanAngelo
The second drawing technique I use is undisciplined and more about erasing. This style came about when I was in elementary school. The art teacher critiqued a drawing I was working on in class. 



He came up behind me, leaned over my artwork, and said, "A real artist never erases."

These words had a huge impact on me. What could that mean? Firstly, why would there be erasers on the end of pencils if you weren't supposed to use them. And, secondly, who was he to define a real artist?



I started using the eraser to reveal the picture. With this type of illustration, it's the opposite of thinking about scenes in a story and drawing them. Instead, the story develops through the space where I erase the lines. I never have a clue what will emerge on the paper, and sometimes a new idea is born. 


I have many stories that have evolved from this method; projects I pick away at. Here's a journey into a long time WIP. The characters and setting are complex and continue to expand. Different elements come about in every illustration. I do think the characters are excited to live through the blank pages. Time is of no essence in meditative drawing. It's true! You should try it.

More Medieval Magic!

We're excited to feature a guest post hosted by C. Lee Mckenzie and find out more about our good friends Pete and Weasel. 

\
Thanks for hosting Pete and Weasel on your amazing blog. We’re excited to be here. I thought I’d tell your readers why I set this story where I did, and what I found out while writing Some Very Messy Medieval Magic (SVMMM). 



I love history, so sending Pete and Weasel off to the past was sheer joy for me. I chose 1173 because I’d been reading about Richard I, and he fascinated me. In SVMMM, he’s still young and not the king yet. In fact, he’s off to France to join his brothers in a plot to overthrow his father, King Henry II.




The more I learned about Richard, the more I had fun writing a “highly fictional” account of Pete and Weasel interacting with him. 




Here are two facts about him: 

1. He didn’t care much for England. He only spoke French and adopted their customs and manners. Well, Eleanor of Aquitaine was his mom and English was the commoner’s language, but since I couldn’t write the book in French, I took the liberty of making Richard bi-lingual. 

2. He loved to hunt and he loved to sing. From all accounts, he had an excellent voice. He became a knight and later a warrior during the Crusades where his volatile nature didn’t show off the supposedly “gentler virtues” of a knight. He did seem to charge into battle a lot, so that’s why he was called Coeur de Lion, the Lion-Hearted. The descriptions I read were that he was “tall, well built and with hair mid-way between red and yellow.” He must have been quite an interesting guy.

Castle Beynac  I’d just finished this story when friends asked me to go with them to France, and guess what? I wound up in castle Beynac where Richard spent some time. The wall around castle and the fireplace in the main hall were the way I’d imagined. The scullery, too. Then when I found the “toilet” I was so pleased to find it matched my description to a T! 
I love first-hand research so much better than what I do online, and when I see the real thing and it supports all that I’ve read, I jump up and down and clap my hands.
I hope readers will enjoy the time travel back to 1173 and the characters that are very loosely based on people of that time. Of course, I had to have a witch or two, after all without those witches, I would never have started this series. 



Buy the book on Amazon
Visit C. Lee's blog 

Read Lizzy's review of Alligators Overhead , The Great Timelock Disaster , and Some Very Messy Medieval Magic , plus check out an interview with C. Lee Mckenzie ! 


FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Some Very Messy Medieval Magic

Some Very Messy Medieval Magic is the third book in the Adventures of Pete and Weasel series by C. Lee McKenzie. This one picks up right where The Great Timelock Disaster left off. Pete and Weasel are called to a meeting and told they must go back in time to fix something that changed when Pete accidentally opened the time lock in their last adventure. Unfortunately they don’t have much time to prepare before they’re sent back, and they can’t even pack proper clothes to help them blend in. When they end up in medieval times, daily life gets a little tricky. Pete’s never ridden a horse and Weasel’s not allowed to wear his glasses because they haven’t been invented yet. Neither Pete nor Weasel can figure out what's going on, and they don’t have the slightest clue what important event they're supposed to make sure happens. How will someone get in touch with them? Who can they trust? Pete’s even more confused now that Weasel can hear everything he’s thinking. Why can Weasel do that all of a sudden? And what about the horse, Mellie, who Pete can communicate with in his mind? Will Pete and Weasel be able to set things right and get back to their time? Is there any way to stop more changes from happening and impacting the future? You’ll have to read this fast pace story to find out!

I have read many books by C. Lee McKenzie and enjoyed all of them. I was excited to read the latest adventure of the characters that have come to hold a place in my heart. Some Very Messy Medieval Magicshowed how much Pete and Weasel have grown throughout the series. Not only is their friendship stronger, but they have each learned important things about themselves in the process. It was interesting when they were in medieval times because it made me realize how hard it would be to blend in with another time period; mistakes could give everything away. I recommend this book to kids in third grade and up who like magic or getting into a little mischief. I've found the series to flow smoothly from book to book, but also believe that each story can be read as a standalone. 
Has anyone else read Some Very Messy Medieval Magic? Or have you read another book by C. Lee McKenzie? 

We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy Reading!
~L
FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Medieval Magic...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! This week we'll get stuck in the middle ages. Lizzy's review will invoke some medieval magic, so stay tuned! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

King and queen sit on thrones, jesters juggle, dogs chew bones. Roaring fires spit and spark, candles flicker in the dark. Gorgeous fabrics hang around, minstrels sing of treasures found. Food laid out for court to eat, finely dressed they meet and greet. In this age, knights crossed swords, fancy ladies danced with lords. A romantic period imagined so, but risky roles high or low.

What am I referring to? Answer: Medieval Times!


Fairday's Riddles: Volume I  Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations Available in all e-book formats



WHAT'S IN A WRITER'S TOOL KIT?
Imagine what writers who wrote books by hand thought about typewriters. Or how authors using typewriters felt when they were introduced to a computer. 

Fairday's Riddle: Somewhere In The Middle...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? I love the style, but would not want to have been there. Nice to visit in books though! ; ) ~ F

King and queen sit on thrones, jesters juggle, dogs chew bones. Roaring fires spit and spark, candles flicker in the dark. Gorgeous fabrics hang around, minstrels sing of treasures found. Food laid out for court to eat, finely dressed they meet and greet. In this age, knights crossed swords, fancy ladies danced with lords. A romantic period imagined so, but risky roles high or low.

What am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer.

I gave you a clue!

The Unicorn in Captivity (from the Unicorn Tapestries)FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Margo's Musings: Can I Have a Dinosaur with That?

Most kids love dinosaurs, and my little sister, Margo, is no exception. I'm always amazed at the large dinosaur names she's able to say. When I saw this book on display at the Ashpot Library I knew we had to get it, and that it would instantly become a favorite. Once we got the book home, Margo was bursting at the seams to start reading it. 

When Dinosaurs Came with Everything by Elise Broach starts off with a little boy who isn’t too happy about having to run errands with his mom. Errands become a whole lot more fun when each one comes with a different dinosaur or two. He can’t believe it, and even tries to get his mom to run a few more errands. But, she's understandably panicking. When they arrive them home things get even more fun. And I didn’t see the end coming.
The cover and title are eye-catching, and I like the way the illustrator has a very kid friendly technique. It's a book that an emerging reader could easily retell just from looking at the pictures. Margo cracked up when it mentioned some things that the dinosaurs do at the boy’s house. It's a fun read for kids and dinosaur lovers of all ages. By the end, I was thinking about what it would be like if we really did get a dinosaur with everything. I am guessing things would be a little crazy! The cutest thing was that after we finished reading this book, Margo decided to pass out some of her plastic dinosaur toys to us. Too cute! Then when my dad gave her lunch she asked, "Do I get a dinosaur with that."  She was a little disappointed. But, we can always read the story again!
Has anyone else read When Dinosaurs Came with Everything? Or have you read another book written by Elise Broach? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Happy reading!
~ F
FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED