Marvelous Middle Grade May Final Check-In.

Greetings all! This month slid away on me and the last few days have been crazy...a good kind of crazy because I am taking part in ArmChair Bea (see sidebar) and having a rather good time. The reading slowed and I have finished a book since the beginning of the week. There are a few I really hope to have finished by the end of the day.

How did you all do this month? I know quite a few of you are in the running for the grand prize draw.

Thanks for taking part in this. As I keep harping (harp harp) I did this really last minute because of my own need to get through some Middle Grade Reading that has been in wings for too long, so was winging it much of the time. Glad you stuck with me through the ride! Best part of all of this is what grew out of it:

-meeting new bloggers

-getting to know other bloggers a little bit better

-growing my to read list and knowledge base where middle grade is concerned

-getting books read that have been in my to read pile for rather too long

-finding out about The 48 Hour Read-A-Thon! Missed it last year, but not so this, because the host Ms. Yingling Reads has been taking part in our MMGMay and I came upon the post saying she was taking over. YAY! Hope some of you can join in the fun.

And the bestest part is that Jill of OWLforYA has given me the go ahead (with the help now of Co-Host Akoss!) to take over March of the Middle Grade. So please do stay tuned over the months as Akoss and I prepare of March of the Middle Grade 2014.

How about all of you? And any thoughts, suggestions you have for March 2014 do let me know!

All best and enjoy your weekend. Will be announcing who won what on Monday.

#ArmchairBea-Day Three-Giveaway!

Hey hey fellow Armchair BEA peeps!

It is GIVEAWAY day. Suweet I say.

Thought I would make this as easy (ish) as possible.

My giveaway is:

 I will buy you a book of your choice (up to 25.00 U.S).  This will be international as long as Book Depository delivers to you.

I am thinking that with all your travels this BEA week you will come across a book that you just MUST have or there may be a book you've been wanting for a while now and just haven't been able to get.

To enter:

Link to one of your #armchairbea posts or let me know what book you think you might get or both! Giveaway ends Sunday June 2, 2013 at midnight (mst).

That be it.

Happy Hopping!

#ArmchairBea-Day 2-Blogger Development and Genre Fiction

Day 2 we talk about how we develop ourselves as bloggers.  Have you branched out into your community? Do you partner with other bloggers?  Have you gone "pro" or begun supplementing your income through your blog?  Are you a long-term blogger, and how has your online personality developed over the years?  These are simply ideas.  Think development and tell us what comes to mind.

When I first started out I got myself involved in a lot of giveaways and blog hops, mostly related to reading for children and teens. It went fast and furious and I was a little amazed at the number of followers I got. But I realized something. It went so fast and furious I didn't really give myself time to truly develop a voice or figure out exactly how I would blog, for who, for why...in other words I did not go much beyond the I knew I wanted to blog because I love talking books, I love helping authors spread the word about the books they write and how they write them. Over the couple of years I did that I began revising the feel of my blog, much like I would revise a book. Out of that grew me knowing I love being part of a community of regular blog posters. Made myself get brave and joined in with something called Marvelous Middle Grade Monday that was developed my Shannon Messenger. From there I got to know many other bloggers and writers of middle grade and the blogging narrowed to just doing it primarily on Mondays...and being okay with that! I also learned pretty quick to just blog as myself. I often found myself thinking oh Deb, your reviews are kind of juvenile, they are not as professional as some are, they do not provide the detail and you are only talking about the books you really really liked. Took me some time to just say...THAT IS OKAY...that is how I want to blog. It's very much how I would be in person if you met me at a bookstore and asked me to recommend some books to you. Plus, with writing and work, blogging just on a Monday is what works best. Right now that is. 

I have taken a couple of leaps, reached out to offer guest blog posts on Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays, organized my own Marvelous Middle Grade Reads and most recently doing a Marvelous Middle Grade May Reading Challenge. Next year I will be doing it in March. Talked to Jill at Owl and she won't be doing it so will be stepping into her shoes with the help of fellow blogger, writer, artist Akoss. Reaching out to this incredible community has served me well. I swear I am becoming less and less shy!



So. 

The most important thing I have learned is to be myself, don't compare. Follow my passion and hopefully it will show on my blog. And if I try something new and it does not work (not talking in terms of comments, cause sometimes I get very few and that's totally okay!) for me and my time, it is all good. Figure I am a work in progress, always will be, therefore so is my blog!

The book-ish focus will be genre fiction.  What draws you to a specific genre?  Do vampires, zombies, or witches float your boat?  Or, do you prefer the heat of romance?  Recommend your favorite genres and/or books and help build reader TBR shelves a bit more!



When I was a teen I thought I would not like fantasy. There was no real reason for it. I just thought it was something I would not like so never really tried it. Same as an early adult. THEN I went to work in youth services for a public library and I was given a required reading list. On it was The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. Playing Beattie Bow by Ruth Park. The love affair began. I was also shaking my head as I read more and more fantasy. It was something I would have LOVED. These days I read it all. Vampires, zombies (Johnathan Mayberry's series anyone? Rot and Ruin oh yeah baby). Witches, urban fantasy. I am drawn by the worlds, the humour, the absolute realness it all represents when it comes to the human condition, the incredible writing chops of the authors when it comes to character development, themes, settings...world building.

Some authors I recommend:

Holly Black (YA and MG-urban fantasy)
Joni Sensel (MG-fantasy, dystopian, crazy good...just finished reading The Farwalker's Quest)
Heather Brewer
Patricia Briggs (adult urban fantasy)
Cinda Chima (mg and ya)
Anne of Green Gables (oopsies, Anne, you don't belong in this list...but how cool would it be? Can you imagine how much she would love to live in an Urban Fantasy world?!!?)

Ta for now!

#Armchairbea Day One-Introduction

Waving hello from Alberta. Hmmm, I really do look like a crazy 

library lady!

Hi all! Happy first day of #armchairbea. Wish we could all be there, lining up for book signings, attending sessions, gathering arcs, meeting up with each other, meeting long time online friends in person...BUT...how cool is this? Pretty darn cool that our fellow lovers of books and reading came up with the awesome that is Arm Chair Bea and I swear every year it just gets better. Now with that said, here is my intro:






Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?  

I am a former public library youth services assistant manager, ECE teacher (daycare), afterschool care co-ordinator who is starting up a new job as a librarian for a k-3 school in Fort MacLeod, Canada. I'm also a professional storyteller with a non-fiction mg book about Russia coming out sometime this year. I live and breath bringing kids into the world of life long learning. That is what got me into blogging. Love talking books, mg in particular. That will be expanding when I start a new blog to go with being in the division one library, thinking "They Call Me Mrs. Marshall" or something like that. I have been blogging for almost two years.

Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. 

I am blogging from the teeny weeny town of Granum AB. Random fact is that we live in an old Catholic church we are renovating...AND...on Sunday I told my husband who is a carpenter that it would be cool to read and write in a treehouse and guess what? He said he will build me one in the huge poplar tree we have in the yard. EEK!

Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year? If you have not previously participated, what drew you to the event? 

I have participated in one, followed along with others. The only reason I didn't join up the other times was that I was pretty busy and honestly, too shy. 

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013? 

Currently reading a middle grade by Jacqueline West called The Shadows. It is book one of the Books of Elsewhere. Two books (cheater, I know!) I just added to my 2013 favorite reads are The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensil (man, that is some serious good MG Fantasy) and Navigating Early by Clair Vanderpool.

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. 

I used to play bassoon, guitar and piano...all at the same time! Okay, not really. But I did play them.

Name your favorite blog(s) and explain why they are your favorite(s). 

Oh my gosh. I have many. I am going to say the blogs of all my Marvelous Middle Grade Monday Peeps (see link above) and of those I especially love Ms. Yingling Reads because of her solid and honest reviews that include her thoughts on how her students receive or will receive the books she reads. Andrea Mack's That's Another Story because of her booktalks and her posts on writing, Betsy Bird's A Fuse # 8 Production, because of its depth on children book reviews and her Sunday features and I could go on. And on and will say that any of the blogs I follow, I follow because they are good at what they do and they keep me informed and inspired to read, write and share...

Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read? 

You know, one of my favorites is a post I did for Tuesday Tales (a feature that will be part of my new librarian me blog). It took me a looooong time to just put my face out there and just dooooo it. It is not the first post I did, but the second and it is one of my all time favorite stories to perform in front of a group of kids. It's for kids, teachers, anyone who loves story and I 'd love for you to listen or read it and get on out there and tell it too! Here it the LINK!

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why? 

Anne of Green Gables because I think she is the most awesome, funny, dramatic character I ever did meet. We will not drink Rasberry Cordial.

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why? 

I would love to go to where the Bronte Sisters lived--growing up and in university I was fascinated with them. Hmmm, they would be all kinds of cool to have lunch with too.

What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? 

Without a doubt the passion and commitment to sharing their love of books and reading.

Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years? 

Nothing comes to mind...oh...how about a chat room session or opportunities to connect via skype of a webinar of some sort? Not sure if the size of our community of BEA-er's would make that kind of impossible. 

Ta for now all. Enjoy your first day!

#MiddleGradeMay Check in.

Greetings all! Hope your reading has been coming along nicely. Looking forward to hearing what you all have been reading and what you thought of those reads. And we are welcoming Stephanie to the #middlegrademay fold! Hey Stephanie, glad you could join us.

This reminds me...

If you want to keep on spreading the word about #middlegrademay please do. There is still until Friday to join in.

Also, I am really appreciative of those already joining in. It was a last minute thing I planned and I am sure some of you are probably still not quite clear on how its working! Next year I think I will do this in March and get some tips for Jill at the Owl. She is not doing her usual March Middle Grade Madness so I will talk to her and see if I can fill her shoes....or fly like she can. Who knows, she may have someone else lined up to take over.

Anyhow. Enough from me. I had a crazy busy week last week (new job approaching, more on that soon). So I am just putting up a quick check in post and will be back with my reads later (3 books, two fantasy, one realistic).

Finally, I wish you all my best on your Memorial Day.

Ta for now and will check in later today!

#Wipmadness May Check In Week 4

Week four? Did I really just type that? This month did fly by. And this last week especially so. It was so busy I did not get any of my #wipmadness-ing done. This includes taking the time to see what you are all up to, cheer you on, commiserate...yeah...sorry for that. I did the bit of more than can chew thing. I am now thinking back to how some of you said that you were slowing it down and enjoying the slowdown, some of you shared your crazy busy time and how you were looking forward to the slow down. So I am thinking this week must be about...

Slowing.

It.

Down.

Way.

Down.

I can handle the crazy busy. Yep. But if I let it go on too long it takes over the organization and focus that allows the ability to manage it. Er, at least that is what I think I think.

That is my goal this week, slow it down. Pick the really important things (one of which is, _seriously_, hanging and writing/reading/blogging with all of you).

That is way enough about me. What about all of you? How was your week? News to share? Aha moments? Moments of peace and quiet, breathing space for those of you doing the last bits of running around before the beginning of summer? School is out in June in the States, right?

Finally. All my best to all of you South of the border on your Memorial Day.

Next week our very own Kim is up to bat for our weekly check-ins. See you all there and thanks for stopping by here this May.

Ta for now.

MMGM and a #MiddleGradeMay Check-In

Hello all! I hope you past week has been wonderful especially with the celebration of Children's Book Week.  I was part of the giveaway hop and using a super technical method:

WRITE names down and number 1-22/  go to random org 

Sending out giveaway CONGRATS to:

MICHELLE!

And here we are with another Monday of Middle Grade Marvelousness and another #MiddleGradeMay check-in for those you taking part. Let me know what you have read in the comments and if you have a post you've put up please leave a link.

Did not get as much read as I had hoped but did get some done, including the absolutely fun read for boys that I know a girl or two I would hand this over to. Fun, funny, adventurous story with a treasure hunt for old pirate booty, mysterious possible government agent types and trying to stay one step ahead of the so called popular "cool" kids. I laughed, I held my breath and I nodded my head. This book wonderfully captured the tone and voice needed to give it that all so important real feel. Speaking of that real feel, one of the students I am working with right now is just like Fish. She is a fountain of interesting information. And speaking of the mention of girls I would give this book to this student is one of them! Here's the book:

Fish Finelli: Seagulls Don't Eat Pickles by E.S. Farber and illustrated by Jason Beene.

When bully Bryce Billings bets Fish Finelli that he can't find Captain Kidd's legendary long-lost treasure, Fish and his friends embark on a quest to find real-life pirate treasure. Between sneaking into the library to track down Captain Kidd's map, stowing away on a boat, and trespassing on an island, Fish and his friends have their work cut out for them. But will Fish actually be able to find Captain Kidd's booty and win the bet? (from Goodreads).

Hope you find the time to check this one out.

Although I did not get in as much reading time as I hoped I am happy there is still lots of may to keep making a dent in my pile. Pulled a handful I really really hope to get to over the next few days. 

How about all of you? How are you doin'?

For those of you just tuning in, there is still time to hop on board and join us by reading at least one middle grade book this month. Here be the details and you can always check out even more MMGM goings on here at Shannon Messenger's, the same Shannon who came up with the idea of Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.

Ta for now and hope you enjoy your week!

#WipMadness-May Check-In Three

Yep. It is another Monday and another check-in. Hope you are all making progress and like many of us seem to be doing...plugging along one word, one book, one blog post at a time. We are well into Spring and many are turning over the soil and putting in those plants as part of the May Long Weekend. May there be time this week for you to til your soul, water it and soak in some sun. Breathe in some spring as you step into the week to accomplish what you set out to do!

Last week I got my article back and it needed some edits. I did not get them done. I did however get a rewrite in and a better sense of what is needed to make it work. I also touched base with a physical education teacher at Lethbridge College. We are developing a resource that using storytelling to help develop physical literacy. Very excited about that. Carrying on with #middlegrademay and in that vein I am working on my middle novel this week. You hear me novel? I am coming for you, oh yes I am.

And...

I was going to leave you with a quote from one of my favorite authors, Jane Yolen. As I read I kept thinking oh, this is good, this is good, oh, maybe I should use this. The end result was me deciding to link to the whole thing, cause it is just that good. If you have the time, do read it....

Jane Yolen: For Writers.

So, how are you guys doing?

Kid Lit Giveaway Hop, #MiddleGradeMay Reading Challenge Check-in and #MMGM!

What is that? Three things in one post? Yep. This week I have upped the game from doing a double duty post to doing triple duty.


First up, welcome to everyone passing through as part of the Kid Lit Blog Hop being hosted by Mother Daughter and Son Book Reviews and  Youth Literature Reviews.

Hope you enjoy yourselves this week as you travel the blogosphere, enter to win great prizes and find some great reads to add to your pile of to reads! To enter my part of the giveaway all I ask you to do is leave a comment with your favorite children or teen lit read. Something you just read or something you read a while ago and is still with you OR, if you like, both! You will be entered to win a children or teen book of your choice from Book Depository. (international entries) The linky so you can keep on a hopping is below. Good luck and have fun!

Next, it is another Monday which means another MMGM as inspired by Shannon Messenger and to that I always say yay. Below you will find what I've been a reading. It is more of a quick round up, but it's aaaaallll middle grade!






Finally, now's the time to for the second check-in for #MiddleGradeMay Reading Challenge. Looking forward to hearing what those who are taking part have been reading. Leave a comment with what you read or a link to a post!  For those of you wondering...what? You can reading about it here and feel free to join our wee band of middle grade readers to win prizes. i

Here's my quick, what I read. Hope to get together something a little more review-ish this week. I done chewed off a wee bit too much.

THIS JOURNAL BELONGS TO RATCHET by Nancy J. Cavenaugh-my gosh love the voice in this one and love the twist on journal writing as assigned by teacher, in this case the teacher is dad. And let me tell you, as a writer I can tell you there does not appear to me once wasted word in this one-tight, tight tight the writing is. Finally, this may be a homeschooled, ratchet holding child with a rather unusual upbringing but boy, kids will relate to her as she struggles to find herself and some friends, too.

The following Linky is for the Kidlit Giveaway Hop. If you are interested in checking out #MiddleGradeMay you can go here.

#Wipmadness May-Week Two Check In

The week seemed to fly by! Got an article written, books read and more submissions "out there". This week will be more of the same. Have two articles to write while waiting for feedback on the one I handed in last week and have me some work-for-hire possibles I want to apply for. Carrying on with the reading for #middlegrademay reading challenge (see side bar) and taking part in a BLOG HOP (see sidebar again!) to celebrate children's book week in the States.

How did it go for all of you? Goals met? New goals made? A crazy busy week? Find time to slow it down and fill that well or find quiet time to just sit, relax and clear your mind? Looking forward to hearing how it went and how you a hoping to spend the week coming up.

I will leave you all with this thought. According to Robin Williams spring is nature's way of saying let's party! You know, I like that. There is a part in my backyard right now-poplar and ash trees, apple blossoms, robins, doves and starlings. Even the wind is joining in on the fun. It's blowing but it's warm and filled with earth waking up smells. I say let's join in with the party and read, write and shine wipsters!

May #Wipmadness-Check-in One

Hello and welcome to #wipmadness for May! Hope April treated you well and you are ready to tackle May with your writing, reading and blogging projects. Looking forward to hearing how you are doing and what you have planned.

This month I plan on
-writing some non-fiction articles for parenting sites via Demand Studio.
-a new draft of the paranormal middle grade I am working on. Blogging and reading  middle grade
as I am hosting #middlegrademay.

What about all of you?

Plans?

Hopes?

Up and downs to share? We wipsters are here cheer you through the ups and be there for you through the downs.

Finally, I will leave you with this photo of the crocuses that were growing evey at the cabin the hubs and I were at this weekend. Spring is here. Wishing you all a wonder filled and inspiring week.

MMGM and a #MiddleGradeMay Check-in

It's May! It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (brainchild of the fab Shannon Messenger) AND it is time for our first #MiddleGradeMay Reading Challenge Check-in. So, this post is doing double duty.

My reading is coming along. Here is where I am at so far.

Never Girls # 1: In a Blink by Kiki Thorpe

From Good Reads:

The smell of salt water, a gust of seabreeze, and the bell-like ringing of a fairy's laugh are the only hints that something magical is happening to Kate, Mia, Lainey, and Gabby. In a blink of an eye, the four friends are whisked out of their ordinary lives to the most wonderful place of all—Never Land, home to fairies, mermaids . . . and now four lost girls. The girls don't want to leave right away, but Queen Clarion and Tinker Bell have figured out a way for them to get home. 



What I thought:

For the younger middle grade set. It is in fact a chapter book series, but one I can see kids up to grade four being interested in. Might be especially good for those who are struggling some with their reading. Love the portrayal of the sibling relationship and how that plays out. Loved the realness of the world created and oh my the details are captivating as is the adventure. Now, what is really interesting is my grandson and husband really enjoyed this, too! My grandson (8) even put down his game of minecraft to listen to this one. Yes. You heard me right. The book was on my kindle so needless to say it didn't look girlie to him. I wonder if I could have convinced him to check it out if I had pulled it from the shelve? I am thinking not, but it is hard to say. Must test this out. Needless to say he settled right in and enjoyed every bit of this book! Also, I must add that I love this cover. Looking forward to the rest of the series and being able to place it in the hands of young readers.

Heck Where the Bad Kids Go by Dale E. Basye 

From Good Reads:


WHEN MILTON AND Marlo Fauster die in a marshmallow bear explosion, they get sent straight to Heck, an otherworldly reform school. Milton can understand why his kleptomaniac sister is here, but Milton is—or was—a model citizen. Has a mistake been made? Not according to Bea “Elsa” Bubb, the Principal of Darkness. She doesn’t make mistakes. She personally sees to it that Heck—whether it be home-ec class with Lizzie Borden, ethics with Richard Nixon, or gym with Blackbeard the Pirate—is especially, well, heckish for the Fausters. Will Milton and Marlo find a way to escape? Or are they stuck here for all eternity, or until they turn 18, whichever comes first?

What I thought:

Oh my oh my I really enjoyed the darkly grimmly-ness of this. The humour was spot on and witty. That is, however, the adult me who loves it when dark and humour are mixed together. I do believe it's called black humour. For some middle graders, though, the dark funny might be too much and be just too scary. It is vivid and so incredibly well done my writer hat is definitely off.  I would say pick and choose your young readers for this one. Fans of Coraline would really enjoy this, I think. Skullduggary Pleasant fans also come to mind.  One thing is for sure, I'm a grown up fan! Why did I wait so long to start on this series? Not sure, but glad I finally got that start.

Oh My God Mother-The Glitter Trap by Barbara Brauner and James Iver Mattson 




From Good Reads:

Middle school is far from a fairytale for adorkable misfit Lacey Unger-Ware. When Lacey ends up with popular girl Paige Harrington's smart-mouthed fairy godmother, Katarina, trapped in her hair, life gets more magical--just not in a 'prince charming' kind of way. 
Katarina's wings are too damaged to continue her fairy duties, and Lacey must take over as Paige's fairy godmother. Distracted by her new responsibilities, Lacey's in danger of losing her best friend, Sunny. Can Lacey get the hang of magic, make Paige's dreams come true, and survive middle school? 

What I thought:

Great cover and the insides to deliver the promise it makes. Surviving middle school and the up and downs of friendship is something many a tween girl can relate to and as I read this I thought the authors did a wonderful job of showing the humour, the heartache, the fun, the growth that today's middle grader/tween experiences. The authors know who they are writing for. Add in some magic and the MC having to become her arch nemesis's new fairy godmother you have a series that is going to gain and keep a following. On a personal not this definitely spoke to the tween that still takes up residence in my head. Do add this to your to read list.

Have a couple more to share but am going to save those for later in the week.

NOW, on to the check-in part that gets you even more entries into the prize packs. All you need to do is let me know in the comments section for this post what you read or if you have a blog post leave the link so we can all go check it out!

And, if you are here from Shannon's blog, here is the link to head on back and do feel free to join in the Middle Grade May Reading Challenge...read one book, read ten or more, it is entirely up to you.

Happy Reading!

Day Two-Marvelous Middle Grade May Reading Challenge

I am thrilled to say that we have a cool looking icon thanks to Akoss!

Here it is:

I am kind of LOVING it! Huge thanks to her for making it and sharing it.

BTW, she's reading one of my favorites from last year, THREE TIMES LUCKY. 

Speaking of favorites I have decided to make one of the prize packs you will be entered to win if you are reading five or more middle grade books (fiction or non-fiction), the first three books of Arthur Slade's HUNCHBACK ASSIGNMENTS. Steampunk at its glorious best in my never to be humble opinion. I've been a fan of this author for a long time now. The following are the Canadian (left) and American covers. I like both...

And here is the author himself explaining steampunk as it applies to his series. Yeah, it's cool.

Day One-May Middle Grade Reading #middlegrademay

Hi everyone! May is here an it is time to rock roll and read some middle grade. The challenge is to read as many middle grade as you can this month. BUT it is up to you how to set the challenge. You can make it one book or thirty. See the original post to check out some of the prize packs you can be entered for depending on how many books you read.

Here is the link


I encourage you all to check out the blogs of everyone who has signed up. See what they are reading and writing about. As you have time that is. No requirements. Be sure though to watch for the check in posts each Monday. That is where you can comment and let me know what you've been reading.

One last thing. I would love for you to tweet or blog or Facebook about this to help spread the word about this. There are some extra entries for extra prizes in it for you. Just let me know what you have done. Created a tag:

#middlegrademay



Happy Reading!