One Small Step...

The moon
landing had to be one of the most influential events of my childhood. If man could fly
all the way up to the bright orb in the sky and actually set foot on the dust-filled
landscape near the Sea of Tranquility, then I figured anything was possible.
Even writing a book!

I owned a typewriter but didn't really know how to use it. Stories
came out whether I typed them or not. After all, I loved reading books--piles and piles of library books! Here are two of my earliest ‘books’. Hope
this post encourages parents to take the wee ones to the library. Give them a
dictionary, colored pencils and reams of paper. Nurture the creativity and I’m
sure your children will thrive. Both of these stories have a normal plot where
I introduced the characters and got them into trouble, ending with the arrival
of a hero who helped get them out of trouble. A classic plot-arc all written
after school was out for summer. Please excuse the childish grammatical errors.
I left these almost exactly as they were written, so many years ago and the
only person who ever read this stuff before you, was my mom.




Date Written June 13, 1969 (One giant leap for Eve Gaal)

Written and Illustrated by Eve N--(my maiden name started with N) with atrocious handwriting. 


This book even has a Fruit of the Loom Seal of Approval! LOL









The Six
Happy Ducks

Six happy ducks lived on a farm in Kentucky. They
were newly born and did not get to see the world outside, yet the ducks were
happy and they went down to the pond to take a swim but mother duck had to come
too. The ducks took an hour swim and then started back up the trail to the duck
yard wobbling their way to where they would be safe. One night, when the sun
had just popped out, so did Ronald the youngest duck. He saw that mom was
resting or sleeping with five yellow happy little ducks. Ronald got on the road
and took a walk. He wanted to see the outside world. He was very happy.


The shocking ending might mean I had issues. LOL

Thank goodness I ended it happily ever after.


Back at home with mom were standing five sad little
ducks because their brother had run away to see the outside world. Mother was
wondering where he would go next but she did not know. On the road, Ron saw
many flowers and met many ants and animals. He talked with them and started
talking to a turkey and the duck saw the different world here and there. Soon
he met a fox. The fox asked if knew the way to Foxville town but the duck
answered no. The fox did not believe him so he followed him all the way home
and then he asked the duck’s mother. She did not know either so he ate the
mother and the ducks one by one. Soon luckily, a hunter passed by and saw the
fox. He shot him and cut open his belly and the ducks lived happily ever after. 









This one has a lot of pictures.





Lost Creek






Johnny and David were on a camping trip. They had
all their belongings in the car and they were starting to unpack their things.
Johnny decided to take a walk with David so he had to ask dad if they could go.
Their father said it is alright, so they started off into the woods. They were
happy.

Soon they came to a cave where they saw a little
trickle of water running beside the rocks. It led in to a cave. It was dark but
they managed to get in. They stepped on the rocks in the cave. They saw
pictures on the walls. They were of Indian legends and battles. David was
scared. He saw a torch so he ran and got it. Johnny said, David look a golden
Indian drum. It’s beautiful. I learned about it in my history book and it was
lost near Thunder Mountain in a cave called Lost Creek. Because anything in it
was lost. David said is this the cave? Oh no, we’re lost for sure because this
is a maze. It was getting dark, almost six o’clock. They were cold and their
father was worried. He went to a man that used to live close to the maze. He
was the only man on that mountain that knew the way in and out. The man’s name
was Larry Swewt he was from Scotland. He was a bright man and always willing to
help. So he went in the cave with father and came out with Johnny and David.
That was the most exciting trip they ever took and Larry stayed for supper. The
next day they left for home. 












Flash
forward to 2013 and you can read my newest book Penniless Hearts by clicking on the title.