Carmela Dutra's Blog, page 5

Literary Classics Book Award Winners

The tradition continues with the arrival of one of the most anticipated moments in the world of children’s and young adult literature. The 2017 Literary Classics Book Award Finalists and Top Honors Book Awards Finalists have been announced.

I am so excited to share with all of you that Little Katie went to the Moon and came back with Silver! 

I want to thank Literary Classics for this incredible honor, and want to give a big congrats to all of my fellow finalists. All of you have worked so hard to get to this point, hats off to you! It is my pleasure to share this exciting news with all of you reading this blog. Once you have finished reading, I then encourage you to visit the other amazing authors listed at the end of this post for more information about them and their incredible books.

I want to thank all of you for you continued support. It means more than you will ever know. Thank you.

What does this mean? I’ll be heading to the Great American Book Festival in South Dakota Labor Day weekend for the awards ceremony, book signing, and writer’s conference!

You can visit the Literary Classics website to learn more and check the other authors who have also been awarded Gold and Silver.

Again I want to congratulate everyone on all of the hard work that has been taking place behind the scenes. Writing is hard work and is often known for the loneliness that accompanies it. So again, thank you for always being there with me on my writing journey.

Here are a few of my fellow award-winning authors and their book.

Lisa Anne Novelline ~ Piccadilly and Her Magical World

S.A. Larsen ~ Writer’s Alley

M.J. Evans –  The Stone of Mercy-Book 1 of the Centaur Chronicles

Stephan von Clinkerhoffen ~ The Hidden City of Chelldrah-ham

C.M. Huddleston – the Adventures in Time series

Chess Desalls ~ The Call to Search Everywhen

Sheila Wall Slavich 

Patricia Reding

Lynne Stringer – the Verindon Trilogy and Once Confronted

 

What is the obsession with writing?

Would you agree with me if I were to say that all of us are writers? Whether by hand or by means of an electronic device we all write, it’s a daily activity that must be performed. We write notes, letters, shopping lists etc.

Writing is an individual thing, whatever obsession or reason for doing so writing is unique to each individual. I cannot say why anyone else writes, nor will I pretend to act like I know or understand their reason, but I know why I do. Writing is another artistic outlet. I write for my own sanity, as I know it is something I must do, lest I lose my mind. When I stop writing I miss it. I long for it.

I never made a conscious choice to become a writer, but I loved to read. I love to explore the various writers of our time and those of times past. The way an individual can take a mix of words and throw them onto the paper to create something beautiful, complex, and inspiring. I find myself getting lost in the world that is created for me to enjoy. Even to this day I still say, I want to write like that when I grow up!

Writing is truly a beautiful art form. The way words can lie together, blending, overlapping and creating vivid images and complex contexts. Having the power to be bold and powerful, and at the same time remaining sweet and innocent. It is said that to be a good writer, you must be a good reader. If you want to write good fiction, then read fiction. The power of a writer’s voice is something truly grand. The genius of writing has allowed individuals over time to change and recreate the world as we see it. Through the pages of a single book, the entire world can become yours to hold in your hands.

A writer’ life is contemplative by nature, a matter of seeing the world from varied and slanted perspectives. Though writing is not usually a well-paying job (especially in the children’s field), you do it because you love it. That is why I continue to write. I love what I do, I love the people who enjoy my works. I do it for the kids, I do it for me. Writing can become an all-consuming obsession, requiring you to steal random moments of the day to entertain your passion.  Yes, I am a writer. But I am also a wife, a mother, a friend, an artist, a woman. 

 

Over the years, I have been asked about the source of inspiration for my stories. I have always tried my best to answer, but in truth, I could not explain what motivated me to write some of the things I have chosen to create. My best work has come like a flash of light, a spark that I did not expect and I quickly have to get it down on paper or lose it forever.

This is my obsession. I write to the point of missing it when I know longer write.  It calls to me like a siren sitting on a rock singing, luring sailors to their destruction.

What is your obsession with writing?

Giving Back to the Kids

If you follow me on one of social media sites, then you have likely seen photos from one of my recent school visits. I’ve had the privilege to attend many different schools, and grades, to speak with the kids about writing, share my stories with them, and to collaborate on projects with them. It has been such a joy and delight to see their excitement about reading, writing and illustrating blossom into something bigger than I ever imagined. I’ve had many of you ask to see pictures of visits and to share my stories. That is what I will be doing in this week’s blog!

I wanted to share my experiences from two recent school visits. While I have worked with hundred’s of students this past school year, I am going to focus mainly on two events. Family Literacy Night, and STEAM into Summer Family Night.  In case you are not familiar with the acronym STEAM, it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. 

(I do apologize, some of these photos may be a tad blurry as they were taken by other individuals then shared with me)

Both of these events were similar, focusing on families and educating children in a fun exciting way. Multiple vendors attended each event, and the total in attendance exceeded the expectations of the schools involved. Each event was utter chaos and complete success! I loved loved loved every moment of them! I enjoy working personally with the student’s and hearing their imaginative tales, watching their creative side take spark is so exciting. As adults, we have a tendency to hold ourselves back. We tend to overthink things. But not kids. They have an idea, and run with it! I remember one story was about how spicy sausage was the superior pizza topping!  Another girl spent 45min at my station detailing the first two pages of her book The Princess that Found the Lost Village. 

Each event was also unique. The first one I attended was focusing solely on the importance of literacy. Galarza Elementry even had guest speakers to address the importance of reading and writing, and how parents are the first teachers and play a vital role both in school and at home. Since I was the only author to attend the event, I was asked to give a short speech to the audience about writing and how I feel about it. I will be honest, that was harder than I expected it would be. Not giving the speech, I’m used to public speaking, it’s a part of my religious organization. We give talks in front of audiences, so that is something I’m very comfortable with. The challenge was I would be addressing both children and their parent’s at the same time. I needed to tailor my speech so it would be relatable to both age groups. Figuring out not just what, but also how to say it and keeping it between 3-4 minutes was the challenge. I will share my speech at the end of the blog, and please share your comments on it!

I was humbled and honored when they asked me to cut the ribbon for the new author’s corner of their library. The students would use this area to leave copies of stories they have written so others can come and read what they created. Teachers would use this area to display well-written books by their students. It was an honor to be apart of this special moment.

 

 

The STEAM event was my favorite of the two events. I know, I know, like parent’s we shouldn’t have favorites, but I did. I will explain why. While I loved and enjoyed the excitement of Literacy Night and would love to have the privilege to attend again, Family STEAM Night allowed me to work with my hubby and two very close gal pals. Being able to share one of my passions with my husband was something truly unique that I never expected to have the chance to share with him in this way. STEAM Night was hosted by the Campbell Unified School District and centered on parent involvement. They specifically wanted activities that parents could participate in alongside their youngsters. They wanted vendors who would be able to show the families how STEAM is a part of everyday life. My husband David is a general contractor, so he was teaching how design, engineering, and math are vital to construction. He helped the families learn to build their own derby cars as a way to teach this lesson.

My pal Michelle is an electrical engineer. She taught the children about currents, and then showed them how to build their own circuit! My friend Bleysyka was the brains behind the operation. She helped put this entire event together!

What did I do? Isn’t it obvious? I wrote stories with the kids! I taught them the key elements that make up stories.  I explained to the parents why I chose to write a STEAM series, how I wanted to encourage more girls to look into the STEAM field, and realize that learning can be more than just facts regurgitated at you in a textbook, but that it can be fun and imaginative too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living in the Tech Capital of the world, Silicon Valley is the gold standard for tech. So you can bet your dollar that a STEAM district like Campbell pulled out all of the stops for this event. We had the computer history museum in attendance (who remembers when Furbys first came out? They had an original one with them!)  individuals from Google who took the students on a virtual reality school field trip, and individuals who worked at Moffet Field just to name a few. It was a complete success with 400 people who attended when only 200 were projected.

Each event left me on cloud 9! I was feeling a surge of adrenaline and excitement, it wasn’t until much later that night I realized how incredibly tired I was after being there for several hours. I have loved each school function I have attended this past school year, from the intimate classroom visits to the big school functions. It was pure joy!

Here is the speech I gave at Galarza to encourage future young writers. Please, share your thoughts in the comments below!

All of us have a story to tell. A story can be about anything, a favorite toy, a family vacation, something that scares us, or even why blue is better than pink. When we write, we are sharing a piece of ourselves with the world, we’re telling them a secret we want to share. This can be exciting, and sometimes scary.

When I first started writing I was scared. I didn’t want to share my stories with anyone, other than my niece and nephew who were the reason I started writing, to begin with. But as time went on, it became less scary and more exciting. Eventually, this path I took led me to become a published author with four books. What started off as a gift for my niece and nephew turned into a gift I can share with all kids.

 I love to write, and I’m able to share my love of writing with children through my stories. The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear that teaches friendship and helping others, and Exploring STEAM with Little Katie that teaches kids about science. I write what I love, what excites me, I write until I miss it when I stop writing.

So, in conclusion, I challenge all of you to write. Write what is in your heart, write what moves you, what excites you. All of us have a story to tell, make sure you tell the world your story. You never know where the road of writing will take you!

Ready, Set, Jump into Summer 2017 C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y SUMMER BLOG HOP

Sunscreen. Kids playing “Marco Polo” in the pool. Family road trips. Bonfires at the beach. Summer is in the air! What does all of this mean? It means it’s time for another blog hop! My blogger buddies and I are sharing what we’re up to this summer to inspire you to have the greatest summer ever!

What are we thinking about, reading, watching, writing about, listening to, and anticipating? Please have a read and enjoy! Then visit the other #Gr8Blogs listed at the end of this post for some more summer inspiration.

Reading…

After trying for yet another time, I was unable to finish The Three Princes by Ramona Wheeler. This is a book I really wanted to like. A story set in an alternate reality where the Egyptian Empire never fell piqued my curiosity. Ramona Wheeler is very good at describing the world in such a way that you can almost feel it. The idea of a giant metropolis built around the pyramids with zeppelins flying by is fantastic. 

Where this book falls is in the writing and the characters.Three Princes is just not that interesting, which is surprising considering how intriguing the world is. I started this book last year and forgot about it. That’s how boring I found this book to be. I tried starting over again hoping I would find it to be more entertaining, but I didn’t. I had little interest in the events as they played out and the actual plot is complicated to follow. 

Oh well, C’est la vie Three Princes. I’m very excited to finish my latest book by a new author I discovered Brooklyn on Fire (a Mary Hadley Mystery #2) by Lawernce H. Levy. A turn-of-the-20th-century Brooklyn detective must find a killer to save her brother. Levy does an excellent job of mixing historical characters and situations with his feisty, liberated detective.

Watching…

Summer is the time when most shows end for the season, but this is also when special shows air, such as Americas Got Talent!! I love this show and look forward to it every year. Season 12 baby! 

Writing…

Currently, I am working on books number two and three in my new series Exploring STEAM with Little Katie. You may recall I was initially geared toward STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) however, after much deliberation with my publishing house and editor, we all agreed I fit better into the STEAM category (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics). I will still be focusing on educating children in a fun and imaginative way. I’ve been working closely with my editor Marcus and a group of teachers to come up with ideas that can be used in the classroom as part of the curriculum. Both of these books will be addressing some hot topic issues, Coding, and Coral Reefs. Very different from each other, but both equally fascinating. I have finished the manuscripts for both stories; now I am working on the illustrations while my manuscripts are being “cleaned up” if you will.

Thinking about/Making me happy…

I’m always thinking about my little Hammy. Can you believe he turns a whopping year and a half this month!! ACK!!!! He’s also what makes me happy. When instead of working I find myself playing and watching him grow and learn. I’m always amazed at how he maneuvers through things. He’s such a tough little guy! When he falls he never cries, even when I am expecting him to because he’s just busted open his lip from taking a tumble off the slide. Nope, he just picks himself up and keeps on going.

Seeing through my camera lenses…

In addition to always snapping photos of my beautiful baby boy (yes I’m biased) I have been working with a mother on a four-stage photo shoot of her new baby boy. We just finished his 3 month photos. Next, 6 month photos!

Anticipating…

September marks the 9th wedding anniversary for David I, and this year we are taking a family vacation to Walt Disney World!! I have never been to Walt Disney World or Florida for that matter. Levi has never been to anything Disney before or taking a vacation with his Avo (Portuguese for Grandma) we are all very excited. I am a little concerned about the humidity and how that will affect my asthma, but I will worry about that when I cross that bridge.

 

That wraps up what I am currently tackling. What are you currently looking forward to this winter or summer? Please drop me comment below and share. Are you curious to see what my blogging buddies are up to? Take a peek and see, their links are listed below.

Tracy Bryan: Tracy Bryan, Children’s Author

Cat Michaels: Cat’s Corner

Sandra Bennett: Sandra Bennett, Author

Auden Johnson: Dark Treasury

Julie Gorges Baby Boomer Bliss

If I were a pair of shoes…

If I were a pair of shoes, I’d definitely be a pair of converse! A, first I didn’t think there would be a whole lot to this blog post! But as I started writing it, I realized that I did find a higher meaning regarding happiness. Who would’ve thought a simple pair of converse shoes would lead me to look within and evaluate my thoughts? Wowzers. And by the by, what are your fave shoes?! Totally curious.

So, I have a few pairs of chucks, but my favorite ones are a pair of very well loved gray low tops (they are too well loved to show a picture haha so I chose another pair to photograph) and my beloved DC Aquaman converse. Which by the way in case you were wondering, I was a huge Aquaman fan before he became popular, along with Flash and Swamp Thing. When the Aquaman shoes were first released I had to have a pair instantly. These shoes have been with me around the block more than a few times. When I put them on they instantly made me happy! Plain and simple. I mean, shouldn’t all shoes make us feel this way?! Haha! If only it were that simple, right?! To be happy because of a pair of shoes? I know when I buy a gorgeous pair of heels  I’m happy for a little bit until I have buyers remorse and wish I hadn’t spent the money.  

Wayyyy off track here. My point is, yes, a pair of cute comic chucks, or maybe green chucks (if you prefer that color) have the ability to make me happy, but I really think it’s because I made a choice to BE HAPPY. I am really working on practicing my ability to choose and to choose wisely. There are a lot of books that talk about happiness being a choice, that our feelings are our emotional guidance system etc. So when we are upset and feeling crummy, we must remember that WE are in charge of how we feel. I know it’s easy to say this person hurt my feelings or that person was so rude and now I’m in a bad mood etc. but really they are just being themselves and doing what they do. We are in charge of how we react to them. We can choose to give over our power to what they’ve said or done or we can choose to allow them to be themselves and let. it. go. Sooooooo much easier said than done, I know, but that’s my rant for this week.

Have a happy day! Remember, it’s a choice!!

Children’s Literature

Do you like Children’s Literature? I do! I even managed to track down some of the old books from my childhood, and yes I have reread them. Children’s literature is amazing! It’s so simple, and yet complex. The depth of the dialog and colorful vivid illustrations are often times overlooked. Sadly some have come to think of children’s literature as just that, CHILDREN’S literature. It’s for kids, and not of any interest to me as an adult.

Do you remember though what it was like to read those stories you had growing up? The carefree fun you had. Exploring, playing, and learning with them. You likely had your favorite book that had to be read over and over and over (you get the point) time and again.  Likely you loved that book just as much as your favorite toy (in some cases perhaps it was your favorite toy).

Children’s literature is more than just fun. It’s a powerful tool to teach children about the world, themselves, and others. Children’s literature motivates readers to think, enhances language, and promotes cognitive development. Quality literature takes children beyond their own lives, broadening their backgrounds, developing their imaginations, and enabling them to grow in understanding and respect for others.

Children can connect with the characters, events, places, and problems in the literature on a personal level. Such affective responses to literature provide opportunities for students to become personally involved in reading and learning. Often times bonding with that book, and lessons it holds. I remember the first time eading The Monster at the End of This Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover and feeling a sense of worry and panic over who this monster might be. I was very concerned for Grover’s safety. My mother, of course, knew all along that the monster was (SPOILER ALERT) none other than Grover himself. She reminds me how adorable it was for her to watch my facial expressions with each page I turned.

Children’s literature is diverse and varied. For example, children’s literature includes the following genres: picture books, contemporary realism, historical realism, fantasy, traditional literature, poetry, biography and autobiography, and informational books. The list can go on and on… and well, you get the picture.

Children’s literature offers so much to children, but they also offer things to us as adults too. They remind of what it was like to be young and innocent to things around us. They take us back to the time when we would climb into the lap of our parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles and cuddle up for story time. They hold memories for us that we might otherwise lose.

Please. Never underestimate what children’s literature holds, for children, and adults alike.

May the 4th be with you!

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. George Lucas brought us one of the best cinematic experiences of all times!  If you haven’t watched Star Wars (and yes believe it, or not there are still some out there who have not watched this gift from the heavens), then today’s blog may not be the one for you. For those of you who have not watched Star Wars (my heart breaks just thinking that there are individuals who have still yet to watch…) be warned there will be spoilers! To all of my fellow Jedi’s, Sith Lords and Scruffy Nerf Herders, this is a blog for you!

The Star Wars Saga is one of the most, if not the most iconic movies of all times!  It’s quoted around the world, even having its own month dedicated to it! May the 4th be with you! May the 4th kicks off a season of celebration, particularly since the month of May has always been important to Star Wars fans. The six live-action movies of the Star Wars saga debuted in May (starting with the original Star Wars on May 25, 1977). The month of May includes George Lucas’ birthday (May 14, 1944), and has been the traditional start date of the popular Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World Resort.

Now I ask you what other movies even comes close to this. Star Wars transcends gender. To me, it’s a story of hope. A story that shows that good will overcome evil. With as much fun as it is to watch over, and over again. It even holds valuable lessons, if you look for them.

 

*SPOILER ALERT!*

“Many of the truths that we cling to depend on our point of view.” Obi-Wan Kenobi

 

One of my favorite lines is when Obi- Wan Kenobi tells us that our truth depends on our point of view. Reminding us to not be so concrete in our views. What is truth for you, may not be truth for the next person. What we “cling to” may not be what others would cling to. We cannot be so dogmatic in our views that we insist others feel the same way.

Take water for example. You look at it and say “This is something to drink” No argument there. Now if you were to ask someone else what water is they might say “Water is home for fish.” Both statements are true, and both statements are a different kind of truth. Both statements varied depending on one’s point of view.

“Do or do not… there is no try.” – Yoda

Oh, the depth and wisdom that is Yoda. We could sit all day and recount his lines and find wisdom in all that he says. What I love about this quote is it reminds us to believe in ourselves, and our own abilities. He was telling Luke to commit to his course and act decisively, also to have confidence. “I’ll try” implies “I don’t think this will work.”

By eliminating the word try, you make up your mind to either do something or not. You will either ignore the task completely or do whatever is necessary to complete the task. It implies that you will have the necessary perseverance in the face of any obstacles that may emerge.

A few other memorable quotes that also teach us lessons.

 

“Never tell me the odds.” — Han Solo

Don’t let tough odds hold you back, all that will accomplish is keeping you from experiencing something that could have been amazing.  Remember, even if an asteroid field is hurling towards you, your odds of success are 3,720 to 1!

 

“Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder.” — Princess Leia to Han Solo

This one might have been more for fun, and it still works through! Don’t judge based on appearances. They are often misleading. Don’t discount that scruffy-looking kid he might turn out to be a hero!

“Uuuuuuuur Ahhhhrrrrr Uhrrr Ahhhhrrrrr Aaaarhg…” – Chewbaca

Really, do we even need to explain the wisdom of Chewy?

While the idea of May the 4th did not start with Lucasfilm, the film company that created Star Wars has fully embraced the spirit of fandom that makes the day so special. With the exciting new trilogy of movies beginning with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Star Wars: IX this day we celebrate the saga, and its amazing fans is certain to become even bigger each year.

Star Wars means so many different things to so many people. So I ask you, what does Star Wars mean to you? I would love to hear your comments, or a favorite line from one of the movies, or books!

Inquiring Minds: Questions from Readers

Recently, I was asked a couple of questions. What is your objective as a writer? Does being a woman have any influence as to why you chose children as your audience? What about your latest development of Little Katie, why did you choose her?

It was then suggested that I take these questions and make them a topic for a future blog, and I thought that was a fantastic idea! I want to give a shout out to Irma P. for her thought-provoking questions, and a helpful topic suggestion for my blog.  I will now answer these questions in order. 

What is your objective as a writer?

Like all authors, to make the reader feel. When I read a book I always have one request: Make me care. I want to feel my interest piqued. I want to feel something, even if it’s just a stirring of feeling or concern or nervousness or longing. I don’t want to be bored when I read, if so, then I won’t finish the book. If you’re not going to be manipulating my emotions and taking me on a journey of feelings, thoughts, and adventure, what’s the point? How do you make your readers feel emotion? You do it through crafting a character with feelings and goals, and also by knowing your feelings. This is what I try and strive for when writing. I try to keep that curiosity engaged throughout the story, and I keep my audience in mind. Being the fact that my audience is children, I have to try even harder to keep them engaged. What will Lorenzo do next? Will he find Lord Boris, and save Lucy? What happened to Queen Beverlee the Bumble Bee, and why is there no honey?  That feeling of wonder is essential to keep the interest in young minds. The other objective I have is to teach something to my readers subtlely. I want my stories to be fun and engaging while teaching at the same time.

My series The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear teaches the reader about friendship, looking for the good in others, and helping those in need. While my other series Exploring STEM with Little Katie teaches factual things in an imaginative way. Feeling, and teaching, those are my two primary objectives.

Does being a woman have any influence as to why you chose children as your audience?

This is an excellent question, one that I have never given much thought. I guess some may drift toward a particular genre, or audience because the writer feels they can connect more. For example, I could see a man who is a fitness enthusiast writing a book about “How to train like a Super Saiyan.” Even though the show Dragon Ball was targeted for children, many adults (especially males) are the audience of the show. This might be due in part to the majority of the characters in the show being male. So I could see a man who is experienced in the fitness realm targeting other people (most likely men) interested in this show who want to work out because the Super Saiyan’s have to train to improve and grow stronger.  My point is, that could be a reason why some chose a particular type of genre when writing because they feel their gender or background will help them to have more insight into what they are writing.  For me, being a woman had nothing to do with why I chose to write children’s literature. The reason is simple, Jason, and Desi. My niece and nephew. One asked me to write something to read, and the other asked me to draw something. So, I decided to combine the best of both worlds and create a picture book for them. 

The other reason is that children’s books really excite me, they are truly complex when you think about it. The vivid images are more than just accompaniments to the written word. They are a story all on their own. Illustrations help to make the text work, and vice versa. Both components have to go well together to tell the story the way it deserves to be told and to make children understand the message better. This message cannot only be transmitted through written language alone. It needs pictures.

What about your latest development of Little Katie, why did you choose her?

This is a question I’m asked quite frequently. It is no secret that women and minorities are underrepresented in the STEM field we need to bridge this gap by encouraging all children equally to become engrossed in STEM. Exploring STEM with Little Katie is the perfect read to making science and math courses fun and interesting not only help children to learn but might also plant the “seed of interest” that could grow into an exciting and rewarding STEM career.

All children learn differently. Some learn through listening, seeing, or experiencing an academic topic. Most times, children learn the best through hands-on, minds-on experiences. Science, technology, engineering and math skills can be introduced or extended with a good book. I wanted something that would not only be a fun read but something that would teach too. I wanted to take the fun, adventurous side and combine that with learning, but in a way that wouldn’t feel like you are just having facts regurgitated at you.

Little Katie is cute. She’s quirky, she’s adventurous and has a passion for learning (kind of like me only I’m a blonde :P). She along with her puppy Smudge are relatable. Both boys and girls alike have fallen in love with Little Katie. I have had great feedback in the classrooms from both teachers and students over the main character being a girl. This world needs more books with heroines taking charge, and exploring the world while teaching at the same time.

Stories play a vital role in the growth and development of children. The books they read and the characters they get to know can become like friends. It’s also good for children to understand that books are a useful source of information and that good reading skills are important for success in their future lives. Reading also helps children with their confidence levels, coping with feelings and language and learning. Reading children’s literature stimulates a child’s imagination, and reading provides an outstanding visual experience. Let’s not forget the bonding that it promotes within the family.

The family that reads together grows together!

Writing children’s literature is harder than it looks—but also more fun. Writing for children isn’t easy. Kids will abandon a story that doesn’t interest, enchant, delight, thrill, or terrify them. Who can blame them? I am the same way. But when you can find a way into a young reader’s imagination through something as simple as words on paper, well, there’s nothing more satisfying.

Thank you for your questions, Irma! If you have a question to you would like to ask, or would like to suggest a topic for a blog, please leave a comment below!

 

 

 

Earth Day Every Day

April 22nd, what comes to mind when you hear this date? Maybe your birthday? Or is it your anniversary? Well, it’s someone’s anniversary, can you guess who?? That’s right, our dear Mother Earth! April 22nd is her day. It never changes, every year on this day people around the globe will celebrate Earth Day.

On April 22, 1970, was the first Earth Day. An estimated 20 million Americans took to the street in support of the environment and in protest to harmful environmental practices. Never mind that “protests” were all the rage at the time. This effort produced a lasting impact on the environment and brought about greater awareness in regards to our planet, its resources, and our eco-system. The things we are putting in the air, water, and earth were impacting us and still are today.

Our dear earth is a beautiful, wonderful precious gift that we are privileged to live upon. This planet is home to wonderful animals and an immense species of plants, trees, etc. How we treat our beautiful home is a reflection of how we feel towards this gift that we have been given. One day just isn’t enough. It’s a great start, but it’s just not enough. For any of you reading this who have ever gardened, you know how much of an undertaking it can be. There’s a lot of work to do, you are not finished in just one afternoon. We all live on this earth together, so we are all in this together.

Change is possible, even an old dog can learn new tricks! Change can start with simple things in our daily lives that go beyond just separating our papers from plastics. This amazingly beautiful planet gives us so much! What can we do in return? Simple things, add up to big things! If you live in California you are aware of the massive drought we have been facing. Heck! If you turn on the news and listen to the weather for 5 minutes, you’ve likely heard about the drought we have been facing. We are no longer to the same degree that we were last year, but we still have to conserve. It’s a concerning thing for us Californians, but what can we do?

Sweep. Don’t hose. I repeat SWEEP! Cleaning your driveway and sidewalks with a hose not only sends dirty water into the storm drains that lead to our beaches, it a huge waste of water! If you live in California you are experiencing first hand how precious this liquid gold is becoming.


Reusable is better. Okay, I know what you are thinking: “This Californian from the Bay Area is going all hippy on us.” While even I laughed while typing that, I’m not. I drink bottled water too, in fact, I have two cases in my garage. Wouldn’t you agree though that the water tastes better out of glass?  Instead of buying case after case of bottled water, carry a reusable bottle. I have over a dozen myself both glass and BPA free plastic ones. Plastic bottles water bottles are one of the top five most common types of litter found. You will also save money, avoid the risk of toxins, and find the taste to be more enjoyable.


Volunteer. How many of us complain over the trash we see littering our freeways, parks, parking lots, etc. Many hands make the load light. So instead of complaining, let’s do something about it! If nothing else, pick up a piece of trash that you come across and dispose of it in the proper place. Not only are we taking a simple step in helping, but we are also helping the animals. And who doesn’t want to help those cute and cuddly little guys!

We share our marvelous home with our furry (and non-furry alike) companions. They can’t speak for themselves to tell us they are struggling with the litter we produce. We owe it to them to help take care of their home too.

These are just three simple things we can do that can lead to a big impact. What are your thoughts? What would you suggest?  If we don’t start now, then when?There is no better time than now to celebrate our beautiful blue planet during this year’s Earth Day. A simple step is all it takes to making big changes.

Happy Earth Day!

Relationship between art and life

Have you ever looked at a piece of art and felt a wave of emotion hit you? Perhaps you were moved in ways you cannot express.  Did you smile bigger than you can remember,  did tears come rushing to your eyes? From the way flowers spin in the wind to the patterns on the wings of a butterfly, there is art and beauty all around us. Aesthetically, it is not hard to see something God has made to make your day a little better; seeing the beauty and grace.

Art is a way for an artist to show how he appreciates the life around him/her. Life changes daily, but an artist seems to make time stop on the canvas. But is art vital for daily life? Do think art is important in education? Art and culture are an important part of everyone’s life, but a lot of people don’t realize just how much culture and art influence their lives. In fact, many people grow to be the people that they are based on the art and culture that they’re exposed to as children and as young adults.

Art is the reason I am in the profession that I’m in today. The various avenues I was exposed to shaped who I am today. I was learning to draw and color long before I could even spell my name, or count to 100. The arts hold a very dear place in my heart. Everything about it, how you can take something out of virtually nothing, and create beautiful works from your imagination. You take your inner most feelings and let them out for all to see it through your eyes.  It’s as if you have a secret that you are sharing with the world, revealing a part of your soul, leaving yourself open and nakedly exposed.

There is no right or wrong way to create art. There are so many types, ranging from abstract to digital, the written form, to musical. We have the performing arts, the street artists, and let’s not forget to capture art through the lens of a camera. The list is endless, and I’m  sure you able to list at least five other types that would or could be deemed art that I didn’t list. My husband, for example, he is a general contractor and always tells me there is an art to plumbing. Now that may seem a silly to most,  but through his explaining it to me, I have come to understand what he means.

Art encompasses daily life. Society is facing a lot of different problems all over the world today, but an artist could find the perfect way to come up with solutions to these problems. After all, art is a way to inspire others while also becoming inspired yourself. Creativity is the only way to move forward in today’s modern world, as more people realize that the ways things are currently done are no longer serving them. For example, when it comes to finding new sources of clean energy, it’s often the most creative people who come up with the most innovative solutions that can help society move away from dirty fuel.

Art and culture also infuse a sense of history into individuals. Whether you’re looking at a historical painting in the MET, or you’re browsing a museum filled with artifacts and a variety of pieces of art from the multitude of cultures that have been on this planet for the ages; you’re learning something new about history. And this art and history can influence the way that you see and appreciate the world, as well as how you see and understand the past and present cultures from around the globe.

When you’re exposed to art and culture throughout your life, you’re learning a lot about the world, both regarding how it was and how it is today, as well as how it can be. Again, this education can help you come up with solutions, regardless of what career you end up pursuing, and it can make you a well-rounded individual who can get along with a variety of people.

Art and culture affect people of all ages, and it’s important to expose yourself, to expose our children to cultures from around the world, as well as to artwork that ranges from ancient sculptures to the most modern paintings. You may be surprised by how much your character is changed once you receive the education that comes with the infusion of art and culture into your life. So we owe it to our future generations to take an in-depth look into what art has to offer. After all, where would society be without the artists who helped to build the culture we are so proud of.

How has art influenced your life?