Yanting Gueh's Blog, page 6

The Cafe of Lost Time

A charming chapter book for those who enjoy Paris, coffee and adventure.There is an old-fashioned, elegant cafe on top of a steep hill in Montmartre, Paris. In this cafe, named THE CAFE OF LOST TIME, is a remarkable invention ~ a time-travel machine, disguised as an espresso machine.

This cafe, as well as this amazing machine, is run by Monsieur Moutarde. Only he and his mysterious good friend, Madame Pamplemousse, (and Madame's one-eyed cat, Camembert), know about the time-travel machine.

Now,...

And You, You Always Came

One of my first and dearest book-blogging friends, Barbara of March House Books, is retiring. Her online bookshop for vintage children's books is dimming its lights and her books are ALL going at a 65% discount. This sale ends on 1st August. Check out which titles are still available and get them quick!

MARCH HOUSE BOOKS

Naturally, I couldn't resist placing my order and here's what I received just last week: Children's books (gently read, not loved-to-death) from the fabulous March House BooksWh...

How I Clear My Path & Re-Solidify

Quote translated from Spanish. Different translations exist.That quote up there is on my vision board. (Yes, I now have one. It's still quite bare but I'll fill it up soon.)

I've been tidying up my room. Years overdue because I've been dreading it. Such a hefty task. So glad I've done it, though! Cleared some space. Gotten rid of most clutter. Donated books. Recycled others. Who knew throwing things away can be so ... liberating? Don't gasp, but I've thrown away many of my freewriting books as...

Middle Grade Feature: Tell Me

Thank you all so much for weighing in on my cover revamp for Little Orchid! I've received very helpful feedback from you lovelies, and some more over on a writers-illustrators' forum (where the general opinion is that the new cover is okay but can be better). So back to the drawing board it is! I'll keep working on the elements ~ adventurous mood, font colours, taglines ... and whatever you've picked that I can't place on the front cover will most likely make it on the back for the print edit...

Little Miss Taylor & Help Needed!

These two weeks -- hectic.


Firstly because I'm an aunt to a second lass. Meet Olive's sister, Taylor!

Yes, I fear we might spoil this one rotten, too ...

Secondly, I've been busy planning, sketching, throwing away sketches and coming up with a new one, painting and researching on ... a new cover for my Little Orchid story. (Story remains unchanged, just the skin.) The original one was okay, but I thought the fonts could be improved, as well as the main subject, which currently features a strange...

Picture Book Feature: The Tiger Who Came to Tea

The tiger said, "Excuse me, but I'm very hungry. Do you think I could have tea with you?"




Sophie's mummy said, "Of course, come in."


So the tiger came into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

...


This tiger was not kidding when it said it was very hungry. It ate all their biscuits and buns, drank their tea and milk and all the water from the tap.

It ate every morsel of food in Sophie's house.


Yet there was not a word of objection from Sophie and her mummy. They were very good hosts.

When it finis...

5 Ways I Help Myself Be A Pro Writer

It's so easy, deciding to be a writer or artist.

And so romantic.Like being a cowboy.

Few years down the road, one either quietly surrenders or quietly rides on. I've hit my 'few years down the road,' too, and I have chosen to ride on. However, I also understand I need to take better care of myself so that I can keep going, so that my path isn't strewn with unnecessary tension to trip me up. We already have too much drama and insecurities to deal with, right?


Here are the habits that have helped...

Middle Grade Feature: Red Butterfly

Mama and Daddy never adopted me.
I have no identity,
no mother,
no father,
no little red book
holding all my information
from the People's Republic of China.
Which means,
as far as the government is concerned,
I don't exist.

...

Kara is an eleven-year-old Chinese girl who lives with an old American woman whom she calls Mama. Kara was born with a right hand that had stubs instead of fingers and so her birth parents abandoned her. Mama took her in. And there they've been, in China, ever since.


Mama doesn't...

Picture Book Feature: Julia's House for Lost Creatures

Julia's house came to town

and settled by the sea.

That evening there was a warm fire and toast and tea.

And all the house was quiet.

Too quiet.

...


So Julia, our feisty heroine, went and painted a sign to hang outside her door.

Julia's House for Lost Creatures

Soon, they came.

And oh, what a mess they made!



What could Julia possibly do? (Lucky for us, Julia isn't the type to sit and mope about. She springs into action ...)


...


I heard about this picture book a while ago, and finally got to read it today...

Picture & Quote Inspirations: Story Settings

Where shall we go for inspirations this week?


I'm thinking of story settings, places I've read about recently. So pack your bag (yes, travel light, lovelies) and remember to bring a sandwich along.Let's begin!

{*Images here are from Common Creatives, as credited in the footer, with the exception of two which are from Pinterest and have been linked back accordingly.}


Have you read stories set in Paris? I finished The Bones of Paris in March, the brilliant All the Light We Cannot See in February(Ha...