Who doesn’t love a smidge of magic and pixie dust mixed into their day? Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother has nothing over Jess Townes, the clever author of a new picture book Spellbound. This enchanting story crafts a fun, fresh twist on new-sibling relationships and the magic of love that binds them.
My last post was a WHOLE YEAR ago. Totally embarrassed. Life has had its way with me.
The newly-published magical, picture books and young adult novels entered into the market offered many stories to read and savor. I found myself buried by books at times. I also tried a new path from writing picture books by finishing the third draft of the first book in a two-book young adult historical fiction fantasy. I lived my days and nighttime dreams within a land of three kingdoms. My multigenerational characters became my new best friends. I even discovered I liked sparring with my multi-layered villains. Drafting and then twice reworking a 68,000+ word novel was like caring for a four-ton elephant. All my storytelling struggles were well worth the hard work. An interested literary agent—a dynamic, instinctive storyteller—has my manuscript. It’s a time of waiting, wondering and…hoping.
The unequaled Eric Carle left us this year. Thankfully, his picture book masterpieces won’t die anytime soon.
Born in 1929 in Syracuse, New York, Carle spent a lifetime nurturing his passion for art and children. He grew up and was educated in Germany while keeping his dream alive of returning to America. At 23, he arrived in New York with his portfolio and a pocketed $40.00.
By nature, we are diverse. We have individual wants, cultures, beliefs, gender identities, and ages. By design, we are united within a hodgepodge of humanity by our needs: food, shelter, hope, a sense of belonging, a sense of faith beyond ourselves, to be loved and to love. Within our growing years and onward, we live many lives as “one” person, spirit, or soul. However we label it.
Are we lined up at the Graduation Gate? Are we seasoned souls with years of experience? No matter where we are in life, we can begin to be more than we were yesterday.
University of Southern California senior Kaitlyn Chu started boldly. Living through the pandemic with the rest of us, Kaitlyn understood how isolation, empty cities, and covered faces has created an uncommon world for us, especially for children. She wanted to help calm the shivers that children get seeing masked faces. On strangers. On those they love. On themselves.
Bursts of belly-laughs. Raised eye-brows. Teary trickles. Heart tugs. Grumbly mutters and more. Good storytelling sparks emotions and memories in us. It connects cultures and generations. The best words create melodies on a page we can sing reading aloud. These story songs expand, challenge, affirm, and delight us. My hope is that my storytelling creates this magic for you.
