COVID-19

FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS: Where Is The Love?

Donna L
Heart, Sky, Clouds, Blue Sky, Love, Heaven

On my way to doing my laundry today I saw an elderly lady walking down the sidewalk towards the same laundry mat I was about to enter. I was too far away to hear what she was saying but the fact she was raising her middle finger in protest as her face showed she was clearly angry. I didn’t need to hear the actual words to know she wasn’t sharing a little love with those around her.

And that got me to thinking.

This pandemic has forced humanity to physically separate from each other in the name of safety. No welcoming kisses for our visiting relatives. No hugs from the teacher. No pats on the back or congratulatory high fives from coaches or instructors.

It’s a strange world we live in these days where every step or gesture we do to distance ourselves from others seem to reinforce the emotional disconnect from other people. And we blame COVID-19 for our stress, our frustration, even our fear and anger over the uncertainty of the unknown.

But does it really need to be that way?

That poor, frustrated elderly woman who vented her anger at the world could have just as easily have been you or me if we let outside influences dictate how we weather this pandemic. We can shut out our spouse. We can dump our frustration on our children. And we can emotionally distance ourselves from our neighbors because it’s “just too hard” to be kind. It takes too much energy to be “courteous” to a stranger. It’s just “easier” to live in our own self-induced cocoon of self-pity at the cruel fate dealt us and turn our back on the rest of the world.

But does that leave any room for love?

Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood fame, once said “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

I’d like to think that’s as true today as it was when Mr. Rogers first said it. Because it’s the helpers who spread the love during these uncertain times. They bring simple comforts to those in need, lift the spirits of the heartbroken, pray with those in spiritual crisis, and look for ways to share the love every day.

The Black Eyed Peas sing, “Where Is The Love?”.

I’m a firm believer it still surrounds each and every one of us.

We just have to put aside our anger, fear, and frustration long enough to see it…

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Amelia Earmouse travels back through time to uncover little known events. You may THINK you know your history, but wait until you see what Amelia uncovers in book three of HISTORY’S MYSTERIES.

Eleven-year-old Emma misses her father who’s serving in Europe during World War II. He leaves behind a treasure box with six compartments to be opened during her birthday week. He also tells her to watch for the gris-gris while he is gone. Looking out for swamp creatures and dealing with wartime rationing is hard enough, but now there’s a British refugee staying at the house! How will Emma enjoy her birthday and keep her decision to hunt the gris-gris a secret with a stranger following her around?

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Best-selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS: Jennie Lou Harriman

Donna L

stove

 

Sequestering Without a Stove

by Jennie Lou Harriman

 

When I lost my home suddenly during the COVID-19 situation, the house I moved into needed a stove. I didn’t feel comfortable, or have the energy while moving, to go out shopping for one, so I used my creative problem solving skills. This whole experience has gotten me even closer to using “back to basics” skills. When I’m not writing, I teach arts and crafts classes for children and people with disabilities. I love teaching “back to basics” classes: sewing, woodworking, and cooking. You never know when you might need them, as many people have learned this spring.

When it came to eating when I first moved into the new house, I ate some food that didn’t need to be cooked. To stay as healthy as possible with a disability, I mostly eat whole foods close to their natural state. I do not purchase many processed or prepared foods. You don’t need a stove to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, cheese, granola or yogurt.

And to cook, all I needed was heat. My biggest challenge–I love tea. Tea makes everything better. If it had been summer, I could have made sun tea by putting water and tea bags in a glass jar on the porch. But it had been a wet, chilly spring, and I wanted hot tea to warm me up. The first few days, I heated my tea water in a slow cooker. It took a loooong time, but helped me work on staying calm and patient during this hectic time. I also used the slow cooker to cook rice, sweet potatoes, and soup. I even baked a loaf of whole grain bread in it!

I have a little Jet Boil stove for camping. I thought I knew right where it was, because I knew I would need it for tea. But you know how it goes with moving…which box was that in?? I was so excited when I found it! This lightweight one-burner gas stove is one of the best cooking investments I’ve ever made. And it heats water in one or two minutes. Yay for tea! I also cooked oatmeal by pouring boiling water over a bowl of oats and putting a cover on it. I did the same with frozen peas.

I didn’t have internet for over a week. In fact, I christened this 30-year-old house with Internet when I had it installed. That was an important reminder to me during this time. Not everyone has internet. I enjoyed that week with little online access. I limited my phone data usage to save money, only using it to check work email and do a bit of research for a stove. It was refreshing, especially since my new house is in the country, and I hadn’t lived in the country since I sold my house in Vermont and moved to Tennessee four years ago. I feel more myself than I have in years–less getting caught in the worldwide web and more observing plants and creatures coming to life in the spring.

Once I had full internet access I did more research, and after contemplating the pros and cons, decided to purchase a nontraditional stove. My kitchen is small, so I ordered a countertop oven that doubles as a dehydrator. But due to slow delivery times, it took three weeks to arrive. During that time, I borrowed a Pampered Chef grill from my aunt and uncle (it was electric or could be used with charcoal) and did all kinds of creative cooking. Some of my favorite meals were: grilled salmon with a spicy maple syrup glaze, whole grain blueberry pancakes, and tomatillos sautéed in bacon fat.

One day I had a craving for a chocolate chip cookie. I decided to take on the challenge of cookie making without an oven. I don’t eat many sweets, so even with a typical oven, I don’t often make a whole batch of cookies. Usually, I just want one or two. So here’s a recipe that not only satisfies a craving for a small family, it proves that chocolate chip cookies can be baked on a grill!

 

Grilled Chocolate Chip Cookie for One (or two!)

By Jennie Lou Harriman

2 Tbsp softened butter

3 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp egg

1/4 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup self-rising flour

4 Tbsp chocolate chips

Preheat grill on low-medium setting.

Whisk one egg. (Use leftover egg later to make a scrambled egg snack.)

Combine softened butter, brown sugar, one tablespoon of egg, vanilla, and flour.

Mix in chocolate chips.

Place one or two mounds of dough on a cast iron pan.

Put the pan in the grill, and put the cover on the grill.

Bake until golden brown. The amount of time will depend on your grill setting.

(Enjoy your warm treat even more, knowing you just baked a cookie on a grill! I’m not sure how this would go using another type of grill. Perhaps the pan would need a cover. Or maybe smoked chocolate chip cookies would be delicious…or not–an experiment yet to come!)

 

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Jennie Lou Harriman

 

Jennie Lou Harriman is an artist, educator and entrepreneur. She enjoys writing nonfiction that helps children have fun while learning. Her passion for interacting with children led to her first six picture books-five of them were created in collaboration with children. The other was part of an intergenerational program that also included residents from a retirement community.

Jennie Lou writes profile articles, recipes, how-to activities, and curriculum. She loves teaching hands-on activities in person, seeing what emerges in the moment, and developing written curriculum so others can join the fun, too!

Jennie Lou was raised in both Vermont and Tennessee, giving her an awareness of different perspectives of life.

 

saw hammer drill

 

My Hammer, Saw, Drill website: hammersawdrill.com
My main art/teaching/book website: http://www.jennielouharriman.com/about
Blog on this website: http://www.jennielouharriman.com

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY: Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez

Donna L

 

kaitlyn

 

 

Creative Ways to Get Your Kids Reading

by Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez

For a while when my daughter was two, she didn’t want to sit still for a book but she LOVED baths. She didn’t want to get out, in fact. So one day I decided I’d bring some books to the bathroom and read to her there. She was already sitting in one place, and I needed something to occupy me when she kept asking to stay in longer. Bonus: a way to get her out was to say, “Okay, one more story, and it’s time to get out.” Boom! 

Creative ways to get your kids reading can be hard to come by, so hopefully some of these will spark something for you and your family.

Another thing that’s worked really well for us is to get books that are about the shows or movies my daughter loves. I know that can be difficult to get right now, but if you already have some books that match with shows or movies, just drop them in front of your child after you start the show. It’s highly likely his or her unoccupied fingers will start flipping through the pages and realize, “Omg this is what I’m watching!” Then you can read it with him or her or them again after the show or movie is over, get the TV turned off, AND that lovely pile of other books you conveniently placed next to them all read, too.

Finally, incorporating books into play has been a successful way to get my daughter reading. Just the other day, my daughter wanted to make doughnuts–she has a felt matching book with food and we got creative! We got a wooden spatula from the kitchen and an recently emptied Gold Fish crackers box for the oven (ok I know doughnuts are fried but just go with it ;)). As we were pretend baking, I thought, “Grandma would love this,” so of course my brain went straight to a refrain from a wonderful book by Anika A. Denise that we received from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library “It’s baking day, it’s baking day, it’s baking day at Grandma’s.” So I found the book and asked her if she wanted to read it, and she did!

Another thing we’ve done recently is actually incorporated my daughter’s toys into books. My daughter has been all about her toys lately, so one day when we were sitting on the ground playing PJ Masks with her figurines, I reached for a book. Of course, my daughter didn’t want to read, she wanted to play. But what if the toys want to read? Ohhh, now we got the toddler hooked. I put one figurine on the page and as you can see, my daughter started adding more in and creating her own story. We got the chance to explore a book in a whole new way. Double score: Mom worked in reading AND creative play!

One of the best things about times like these is they really inspire us to think outside the box, so while these ideas of connecting reading to something else aren’t new, what you come up for your child will be. And then you can pat yourself on the back and say, “Wow, I’m smoother than I thought.” Or at least, that’s what I did 😉  Whatever you do, just know, we’re all struggling with trantrums and worries and way too much tech use. Just try your best; that’s all anyone can ask for.

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Additional interviews with Kaitlyn:

http://www.pbspotlight.com/single-post/2020/01/24/Author-Champion-Spotlight-Kaitlyn-Sanchez

http://anafiction.com/2019/06/21/kaitlyn-sanchez-and-her-journey-to-get-her-agent/

http://www.wordsandpics.org/2020/02/special-feature-how-inspiration-spreads.html

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Sanchez

Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez is an associate agent at Olswanger Literary, mom, wife, math teacher, and picture book author represented by Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency.

She is also the co-creator and co-host of the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest and Kidlit Zombie Week as well as the creator of the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy Contest.

In her free time, she loves to play soccer, binge-watch TV shows, and, of course, read. Especially when her husband and daughter cozy up so they can all read together.

Website // Twitter // Facebook

FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS: Debbie LeCroix

Donna L

dungeon

 

(Editor’s Note…If you’re like me, adjusting to a new, COVID-19 world is a bit stressful. Everywhere you look…radio, TV, newspapers, and even the internet…are stories of the latest stats from around the world. Hospitalizations. Unemployment. Social distancing. How do we keep our sanity in the middle of all the craziness? 

BY STAYING CONNECTED WHILE STAYING SIX FEET APART

For the next several weeks, many of my writerly friends will be virtually dropping by to inspire, uplift, and make us laugh as we look for reminders that even the scariest of times do not last forever. I hope you enjoy this FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS series. If you want to know more about me, Donna L Martin, or my books, check out my Story Catcher Publishing website at www.storycatcherpublishing.com)

 

The Family Dungeon (It’s not what you think)

by Debbie LeCroix

 

Growing up, I watched my brother play Dungeons and Dragons.  They never asked me to play.  I probably would have. But as an adult, my interest is about as deep as watching paint dry. But, D&D has always been something my son Billy enjoyed. Alex (my college student) always wanted to learn. So when we got stuck in Quarantine, guess what?  Family Dungeons and Dragons every Sunday and Wednesday.  Let me repeat… every Wednesday and Sunday.  (My husband told me if I wanted out to roll badly so I’d get killed off.  His technique has not worked. We are all still in the game 4 weeks later, and I have to admit, it’s kind of fun.) And I’m learning so much. Who knew that there were so many variations and shapes of dice?!

Alex picked a Wizard.  My husband, Todd, is a Fighter, and I’m a lovely Rogue.  Somehow we all picked the same name: Fig.  That’s what happens when you are listening, but not listening to each other.  We all have variations of Fig.   I’m actually Figly, the Rogue. And I’m pretty good with a crossbow.

I have amazing stealth skills, which I use to “borrow” ale.  Billy, the Dungeon Master, makes me role every time I choose to do this, to see if I’m as efficient as I can be.  I think it’s his way of teaching me consequences.  I’m not a huge drinker in real life, so I’m using my alternative reality to build up my tolerance.  Some rolls of the dice is better than others.  I’ve also learned with my strong persuasion skills and card game abilities, that I’m great at gambling to get what I want or save us from a situation.  Of course, I think my son changed the rules for me.  I’ve never liked the violence of attacking goblins, giants and Bugbears with axes and bows. I’d much rather friend them and read them a bedtime story.  This is difficult to do as Bugbears are like hobgoblins, but bigger and scarier (I think.) I’m learning an entire new world here.

It’s really fun to watch Billy as our Dungeon Master.  He loves to act out all the attacks.  It’s like watching a YouTube video, but in real life.  I really need to get some of these on camera.  (I almost said tape, but that would be irrelevant since we no longer have tape.) 

Along the way we saved a Goblin, named Droop.  I want to call him Doby.  House elf/goblin….  Droop has actually saved us a few times.  He doesn’t have much confidence, but has been just what we need to win against a encampment of orcs and one ogre. Please note for any real die hard D&D players, if I misspeak your language, it is not intentional.

Family Dungeons and Dragons is a really great bonding experience.  Since we have no activities in the evenings and all my events have been cancelled, we are using our time to bond and try something new.

It’s also really great for opening up the imagination, learning to world build, and creating story scenarios.  If you are looking for something to do, and this sounds fun, I say go for it! It’s all about the experience points.

 

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Debbie book

 

REVIEW:

Children’s Literature – Jodell Sadler

This is a title that looks like it’s all about telling time, but it’s actually about anticipating time. And really celebrates clocks, clock sounds, such as various cuckoos and tick-tock sounds, and movements to the rhythm of the day. It also brings up the various lullabies, serenades, and unique sounds that can come booming out every sixty minutes. This story is told through the interactions of two unspoken characters, a blue bird and a horse that step in time together, hang from pendulums, who remind each other to listen, sleep to lullabies, and wake up in time to start their day. This book is a nice reminder of all the sounds of many kinds of clocks: cuckoo, alarm, grandfather, hall, kitchen, and anniversary clocks, that kids might find in their lives and the roles they play. Kids who enjoy this title may also enjoy 10 Minutes to Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann, which shares a fabulous unspoken story in the illustrations.

 

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debbie picture

 

Author Debbie LaCroix writes picture books and is a playwright. She’s currently working on her first middle grade novel.  She also sells Usborne Books & More.  With her free time, Debbie reads Tarot cards and interprets dreams to help empower others and help them find their stories.  You can find her at www.debbielacroix.com for her writing, www.goreadtoday.com for her books, and at www.facebook.com/dreamcatcherdragon for her Tarot.

 

 

FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS: Natasha Wing

Donna L

 

kids laughing

 

(Editor’s Note…If you’re like me, adjusting to a new, COVID-19 world is a bit stressful. Everywhere you look…radio, TV, newspapers, and even the internet…are stories of the latest stats from around the world. Hospitalizations. Unemployment. Social distancing. How do we keep our sanity in the middle of all the craziness? 

BY STAYING CONNECTED WHILE STAYING SIX FEET APART

For the next several weeks, many of my writerly friends will be virtually dropping by to inspire, uplift, and make us laugh as we look for reminders that even the scariest of times do not last forever. I hope you enjoy this FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS series. If you want to know more about me, Donna L Martin, or my books, check out my Story Catcher Publishing website at www.storycatcherpublishing.com)

 

Using Joke Books to Lighten the Mood and Teach at the Same Time

by Natasha Wing

 

Like sneaking grated vegetables into a recipe, joke books are a great way to get your kids to read without it feeling like reading. There’s no chapter to finish. No stressful plot or conflict. But skills are still being learned. Kids learn about humor and what’s funny and how to play with language. They learn how to read aloud and get comfortable in front of an “audience.” They learn how to memorize. All while building their vocabulary.

Here’s an example of the fun you can have with a joke.

Why do Europeans walk funny?

They convert feet to meters.

This is silly on several levels. First, picturing people walking funny IS funny!

Then having their feet change into something else like meters is silly. Adults may think of meters as a measurement, but younger kids might imagine a real object like parking meters.

From here, you can now turn this into a learning experience. Find out the conversion rate of feet to meters. Then go around your house and measure things in feet and see if your child can convert to meters. See, you snuck in a little math, too!

If you want to extend this further, you can have your child draw a caricature of a person walking with meters instead of feet. Look up what caricatures are and study the different exaggerated styles, then draw. Now you’ve snuck in an art class!

Here’s a way to expand language. When writing jokes you don’t want to give away the answer in the question, just hint at it. For example, there’s a joke in Saltwater Sillies: 300+ Jokes for Buoys & Gulls about seals. If I had written, “What branch of the military did the seal enlist in?” it would have been too simple to guess. (Navy Seal) Rather than using the word “seal” in the question, I used another word for seal which is pinniped. Pinniped means fin or flipper-footed and refers to the marine mammals that have front and rear flippers. This group includes seals, sea lions, and walruses. Finding this out allowed me to substitute pinneped for sea lion and walrus jokes, too. Your child will now know another word for seal, sea lion and walrus!

Here are some fun ways to use joke books while sheltering in place.

  1. Make sure your household and the grandparents’ household each has the same joke book. Then during Facetime or Zoom chats you can take turns telling each other jokes. It’s a fun way to connect and make each other laugh. Plus it gives your child an opportunity to ask their grandparent what a word means.
  2. Challenge your child to come up with a new joke.

Give him or her a list of words that sound alike such as:

See

Sea

Si

C

Then see if they can come up with a joke using one or more of those words. Have them share it out loud with someone to test it out.

  1. Have your child write a joke on a postcard and mail it to a friend or teacher that your child misses. Ask the friend to mail one back.
  2. Play a game of make up the answer.

Write down three joke questions. Then ask your kids to supply their own answer. Have everyone vote on the funniest answer.

  1. Play act out knock-knock jokes. Two people can participate in this: one says knock-knock and the other asks the question, Who’s there? The children can dress up by wearing hats, or can act by pretending to be a character and change their voices. If you want to add music to this stand-up comedy act, have another child with a drum, harmonica or a kazoo make a funny noise with their instrument after each joke answer. Record it and send it to a friend or family member.

While you’re at home teaching, use joke books to lighten the mood, and feel good about developing your child’s sense of humor and vocabulary.

 

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Natasha book

 

Where do king crabs live? In sandcastles! Hundreds of ocean-themed jokes for kids ages 5-10. Knock-knocks, tongue twisters, one-liners, and puns will keep them laughing all the way to the beach. Also includes fun facts, and kooky caricatures for kids to color in. Packable size to take on trips. Crack your friends and family up with a gift of humor!

Available on Amazon (http://amzn.to/2XsuFez) and other online retailers.

 

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Natasha picture

 

Natasha Wing is the author of a funny children’s book using bakery puns called Bagel In Love. She has also published three joke books: Lettuce Laugh: 600 Corny Jokes About Food; Buzz Off!: 600 Jokes About Things with Wings; and Saltwater Sillies: 300+ Jokes for Buoys and Gulls. More of her books can be found at natashawing.com. Friend her author page: facebook.com/natashawingbooks.

 

 

FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS: Lori Degman

Donna L

 

connected

 

(Editor’s Note…If you’re like me, adjusting to a new, COVID-19 world is a bit stressful. Everywhere you look…radio, TV, newspapers, and even the internet…are stories of the latest stats from around the world. Hospitalizations. Unemployment. Social distancing. How do we keep our sanity in the middle of all the craziness? 

BY STAYING CONNECTED WHILE STAYING SIX FEET APART

For the next several weeks, many of my writerly friends will be virtually dropping by to inspire, uplift, and make us laugh as we look for reminders that even the scariest of times do not last forever. I hope you enjoy this FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS series. If you want to know more about me, Donna L Martin, or my books, check out my Story Catcher Publishing website at www.storycatcherpublishing.com)

 

Staying Connected in a Disconnected World

by Lori Degman

 

Thanks, Donna, for asking me to write something for your Feel Good Fridays series!  It’s such a great idea! I’ve definitely had my share of sad and lonely times over the past month.  Not being able to see my mom, kids and grandkids has been really hard, but we Facetime and Skype often to keep in touch.  I also do Zoom meetings and Hangouts with different groups of friends and that has helped!

One thing that’s been discouraging for me is that my newest book, Travel Guide For Monsters, comes out April 15th and I’m not able to share it with kids.  I had five bookstore events and six school visits planned to help celebrate the book and of course they were all canceled.  It has made the release of this book feel so much different from the others – there’s just not the same energy and excitement about it.

I was encouraged when I saw some authors had made videos of themselves reading their books.  I loved the idea because I really wanted to connect with kids, but I was nervous about doing it.  I knew they wouldn’t be perfect – and they’re not!  But that’s ok, because kids need to see adults making mistakes too!  Now I have Youtube videos for each of my six books and I hope people are enjoying them.

Another thing I’m doing is virtual visits with students.  For one school, they weren’t able to do anything “live” so they sent me questions from the students and I recorded and shared my answers with them.  I’m also scheduled to do readings and Q&As with classes on Instagram Live and Zoom.  I love interacting with kids so, if any teachers reading this would like me to join your zoom classroom sometime, let me know.  You can email me at [email protected].

Thanks again, Donna!

 

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Lori book

 

Taking your monster on a road trip this summer? Or letting your favorite beast tag along on a family beach vacation? Wherever you and your monster are traveling, Travel Guide for Monsters is full of essential tips to help you both enjoy the sights from coast to coast–and avoid monster-related mishaps.

Available on Amazon and other online retailers.

 

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Lori Picture

 

Lori Degman is the author of the award-winning books: 1 Zany Zoo, Cock-a-Doodle Oops, and Just Read, as well as Norbert’s Big Dream, Like a Girl, and Travel Guide For Monsters.  She was a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education.  Lori lives in Vernon Hills, Illinois, where she spends her days writing, visiting schools and playing with her grandkids (once this quarantine is over).  You can find her online at www.Loridegman.com.

 

FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS: Donna Boock

Donna L

 

birthday

 

(Editor’s Note…If you’re like me, adjusting to a new, COVID-19 world is a bit stressful. Everywhere you look…radio, TV, newspapers, and even the internet…are stories of the latest stats from around the world. Hospitalizations. Unemployment. Social distancing. How do we keep our sanity in the middle of all the craziness? 

BY STAYING CONNECTED WHILE STAYING SIX FEET APART

For the next several weeks, many of my writerly friends will be virtually dropping by to inspire, uplift, and make us laugh as we look for reminders that even the scariest of times do not last forever. I hope you enjoy this FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS series. If you want to know more about me, Donna L Martin, or my books, check out my Story Catcher Publishing website at www.storycatcherpublishing.com)

 

Quarantine Birthday Party Ideas – Ways to Celebrate Virtually

By Donna Boock

 

 

About a month ago, I went out like everybody else and stocked up on supplies to get us through a few weeks in quarantine. Canned soup – check. Frozen pizza – check. Extra chocolate – check and double check. We were ready, we thought.  However, I never imagined we would still be quarantining more than a month later. And it certainly didn’t occur to me that we might be celebrating birthdays in quarantine.

But both of my kids were born in April, and as it came onto the horizon, and no end to social distancing was in sight, it became clear we’d be home alone celebrating. It was time to get ‘virtually’ creative.

 

Flat Matt

 

My son Matt’s birthday was first on the calendar. I wanted to find a way to make this birthday spent in isolation feel somehow less isolated. I came up with the Flatt Matt project. If you’re familiar with Flat Stanley, this idea springboards from that. I found a picture of Matt, blew it up and removed the background using Canva.com, then printed and cut out copies (If the people you are sending to have printers, you could just text or email as well). Then I wrote a letter to friends and family who I thought would have fun with the idea and asked them to make a short video using the Flatt Matt action figure as I called it, and either tell a favorite memory, or what they can’t wait to do with him when this is over or simply sing Happy Birthday. I asked them to please text it to him on his birthday. I was in awe of all of the creativity people put into it, and he loved getting all those fun videos as they trickled in throughout the day. It was like an all-day video celebration!

Riley, my daughter, was up next. Having been recently thrust into online school, I knew all of her friends would have Zoom downloaded so we planned a Zoom meeting birthday celebration. I masked up, grabbed my hand sanitizer and dashed in & out of the grocery store to buy individual cupcakes to drop off to her local friends and family (doorstep delivery only, with a text to let them know their cupcakes were outside). Before we lit the candles and sang, we asked everybody to share one favorite story or memory of Riley. She loved that her friends got to share in her special day, and I loved the stories they shared. You can even download certain apps that allow you to interact and play games through Zoom!

Some other ideas on my brainstorming list were:

  • Camping out in the backyard (Pitch a tent indoors if it’s too cold where you live)
  • Video game “party” using a system that allows kids to interact virtually & schedule a time with parents so kids all can game together
  • Zoom, Skype or Houseparty call (with cupcakes or pizza delivery optional)
  • Create an Escape Room at home (search on Pinterest) or reserve a virtual one with friends here http://lokeysescaperooms.com/

So, if you or someone you love has a birthday coming up, and you are looking for ways to make it special even if you can’t be together, I hope these ideas inspire you and allow the distance to melt away.

 

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Donna books

 

The whole class is going on a field trip to the zoo!

But too bad for classroom rivals Kinzie and Ben. Neither of them can go thanks to getting—and sharing—pink eye. To make it even worse, Ben’s mom can’t take off from work, which means Ben has to come to Kinzie’s house for the day. And there’s no time to make a Kinvention to stop that.

Kinzie and Ben decide if they can’t go on the field trip, maybe they can create their own backyard zoo instead. What could possibly go wrong with that great idea?

Available on Amazon and other online retailers.

 

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View More: http://bobbirattaiphotography.pass.us/donna-headshots

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I am a children’s book author originally from the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania. There I lived on a lovely lake where there were no fish, bears or snakes. (wink, wink)

I now live in Venice, Florida which is known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World and is named for the abundance of sharks’ teeth found on the shores.  But that doesn’t scare me at all. Why should it? The sharks here obviously don’t have any teeth! As an extra boost of luck, there are no alligators or snakes here either.  (wink, wink)

?In case you can’t tell, I write funny fiction. That means I make up a lot of things and people laugh at me – often.

TALES FROM THE BAYOU: Someone Throw Me A Lifesaver

Donna L

 

lifesaver

 

You would think a gal who was raised in and around the swamps of southern Louisiana would know how to swim like a snapping turtle, but that was one life skill I never quite learned how to master.

When I was seventeen, I traveled to San Diego to spend some time with my older brother. He was in the Navy and stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.  I thought I would have the time of my life, romping on the beach and cultivating a tan.

I was wrong.

My first day at the beach, my brother and one of his Navy buddies decided it would be funny to grab me, drag me out to water over my head and dump me in the Pacific Ocean to see if I could get back to shore. What they didn’t bargain on was my getting disoriented and nearly DROWNING before they realized what was going on and had to drag me back to dry land.

That is one memory I’ve carried with me for almost forty years, coloring my fear of water I can’t see through and preventing me from enjoying the local pool each summer.

A worldwide pandemic can turn everyone’s world upside down. It can instill fear in some; frustration in others.  As writers, we sometimes allow all the daily tasks and writerly deadlines weighing down our plates to try to drown us to the point of immobility.  We can’t seem to see a light at the end of the tunnel and allow our fears to drown us in a sea of overwhelming uncertainty and lack of confidence in our ability to achieve our daily goals.

Here are some of the things I have done to help keep my head above water during these challenging times…

 

  1. Find a way to write daily whenever possible. In the past, when my computers have gone haywire, my boss generously allowed me to use the school’s computer to write my weekly blog posts so I wouldn’t get behind.  My local library also allows access to their computers in two hour blocks for quick tasks I can do there. It also gives me a chance to check out the books and do research for book four in my HISTORY’S MYSTERIES series!
  2. Set priorities. If there are submission opportunities with deadlines, I made sure I found a way to meet those deadlines in time.  Some of my other writing projects will have to wait until next month.
  3. I’m taking this “down time” to work on either researching book four in my HISTORY’S MYSTERIES series or revising/cleaning up old manuscripts that I have hard copies on hand. I can always transfer the info to my files and databases later, but for now, I’m staying productive.
  4. Use my smartphone for keeping in touch with my social sites so my friends and other connections won’t begin to think I really have drowned.
  5. Take this time to make sure I’m getting extra rest and ready to hit the ground running next month when hopefully, things return to something closer to normal. I’ve been going to bed well before my usual midnight lights out, and have actually found time to do some leisure reading this weekend that I NEVER get the chance to do anymore!

Some of these ideas might work for you, and maybe you will come up with some ideas of your own to prevent you from drowning under the stress of dealing with quarantines during this pandemic.

If you come up with something that really works for you, please share in the comments below. You never know when you might be saving another writer needing a helping hand!

 

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sale

 

***SALE***SALE***SALE***SALE***

 

From May 1st through May 15th, book one of my historical fiction series for 8-12 year olds, HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Ship of Dreams, ebook edition is on sale for only 99 CENTS! If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, go here and grab it… http://www.amazon.com/Historys-Mysteries-Dreams-Donna-Martin/dp/173232784X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ship+of+dreams+donna+l+martin&qid=1588549888&sr=8-1

 

HM HGG ebook cover jpeg 3-16-20

READER’S FAVORITE 5 STAR REVIEW 

 

SoD Reader's Favorite 5 star seal (web)

 

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donna - Copy

 

Best-selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

TALES FROM THE BAYOU: Who’s Crazy Now?

Donna L

corona map

 

I grew up in a family with three other siblings.  Every winter there would be one or more of us who picked up some kinda bug along the way. If it was a minor illness, my mother would isolate the offending child and nurse them back to health while keeping the other kids away from them as much as possible.

But, if it was something like the measles or chickenpox or even the mumps, my mother would throw us all in the same room in the hopes we would ALL share the illness. ALL getting sick at the same time, and ALL recover at the same time so our house wouldn’t be in quarantine forever as one person passed the nastiness on to another and then another and…well, you get the idea.

Back then, I thought my mother was crazy to throw us all together. Back then I wanted to do the whole social distancing thing from day one but my mother ruled our house with an iron fist and if she said go sit in that stew of germs, then into the stew you went.

In TODAY’S world, crazy is at a whole new level. NOW, if one kid starts to get sick, no one in their right mind would ever think of throwing all the kids into the mix with the hope EVERYBODY gets the virus. The term social distancing has a whole new meaning in this Corona filled world we now live in.

When I was a kid, being sick meant no school, hanging out with your siblings, and hugs from your mom til you felt better.

Now, when you’re sick, it means maybe online schooling, isolated in your home, and Skyping with loved ones.

Who’s living the crazy life now?

 

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HM Hunting Gris-Gris Epub cover

 

HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Hunting Gris-Gris

Eleven-year-old Emma misses her father who’s serving in Europe during World War II. He left behind a treasure box with six secret compartments to be opened during her birthday week. He also told her to watch out for the gris-gris while he was gone. Looking out for swamp creatures and dealing with wartime rationing was hard enough, but now there’s a British refugee coming to stay at the house! How will Emma enjoy her birthday and keep her decision to hunt for the gris-gris a secret with a stranger hanging around?

NOW AVAILABLE IN EBOOK, PAPERBACK & HARDBACK ON AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, BOOKS A MILLION, AND OTHER FINE RETAILERS!

 

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donna - Copy

 

Best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest chapter book series is called HISTORY’S MYSTERIES. Book three, Hunting Gris-Gris, is now available in ebook, paperbook & hardback everywhere!

FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS: Jarm Del Boccio

Donna L

flower

 

(Editor’s Note…If you’re like me, adjusting to a new, COVID-19 world is a bit stressful. Everywhere you look…radio, TV, newspapers, and even the internet…are stories of the latest stats from around the world. Hospitalizations. Unemployment. Social distancing. How do we keep our sanity in the middle of all the craziness? 

BY STAYING CONNECTED WHILE STAYING SIX FEET APART

For the next several weeks, many of my writerly friends will be virtually dropping by to inspire, uplift, and make us laugh as we look for reminders that even the scariest of times do not last forever. I hope you enjoy this FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS series. If you want to know more about me, Donna L Martin, or my books, check out my Story Catcher Publishing website at www.storycatcherpublishing.com)

Can Anything Good Come From the Corona Virus Crisis?

by Jarm Del Boccio

 

Can anything good come from a crisis? Particularly, the Covid-19 Pandemic? I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately, as I watch life as we once knew it fade into the distance, and a new normal come to the forefront. People grumble and panic. They blame and turn inward.

 

THERE IS A GLIMMER OF HOPE ON THE HORIZON

 

While some reveal a negative attitude in response to what is swirling around them, (let’s not mention the TP frenzy), others are doing something positive during this crisis. And I believe for many, it comes from deep inside with a heart of faith in God and His providence. Or, maybe for some, motivation to help the less fortunate.

Whichever it is, I am thankful. And I stand back with awe and gratitude. For a person of my age, I’m supposedly meant to hunker down at home. Well, I’m trying my best. But there are times. . .

 

chicagoChicago — the scene of a dystopian novel

 

Like the middle of March, when I took a trip to my happy place: Downtown Chicago. I played investigative reporter (like Nellie Bly, my latest research project), to see if things were truly closing down.

It was pretty much deserted. Even the pigeons were practicing social-distancing. So, how can the closing of stores, restaurants, schools, libraries and coffee shops (except for take out), be a good thing?

 

THE WAY I SEE IT — THE COVID CRISIS BRINGS GOOD

 

People are more in touch than ever. Can you see it happening? Have you taken part?

  • Families are more physically (how ironic) in touch with one another. Yes, it may drive some crazy to be in such close quarters, but on the whole, it’s positive. Wouldn’t surprise me if families continue playing board games, watching TV, going for walks, and reading books together.
  • Parents are appreciating what teachers have done for their children, now they themselves are home educating. Could it be that next fall, some kids beg to continue?
  • Experts are being generous by offering free seminars and classes. Authors make read-aloud and creative writing videos, offering them free, along with skype meetings, to school children sequestered at home.
  • Churches are hugging their congregations via social media, technology and prayer. Coming to the aid of those less fortunate inside and outside the church. Finding new ways to connect.
  • People are actually phoning their friends and family across the globe, and talking longer than ever before.
  • Creativity oozing from social media — Choir members performing from the safety of their own homes. Clever ways to connect with the elderly in locked-down nursing homes. Surprise birthday parties organized on Zoom. Crazy gifs to make a heavy heart light. Helpful links to get us through the crisis, and inspirational memes to encourage our spirits.
  • Customers are learning to think of others instead of themselves when it comes to stocking up on groceries and – well – you know.
  • People are reaching out to God, looking for some spiritual guidance and encouragement. And thinking about their final destination in light of the rampant virus.
  • And the list goes on. . .

 

SPEAKING OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS – HERE ARE SOME CRISIS BUSTERS!

 

I love to connect people with resources that can be helpful, especially in times like these. I hope something below will resonate with you!

Run out of ideas for your house-bound students? LEARNING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AT HOME

You may not have thought of these: WAYS CHURCHES CAN HELP IN A CRISIS

Going stir-crazy? Time for a break: 25 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY WHILE STUCK AT HOME

Have you always wanted to be artsy, but never had the time to take a class? Well, now there is no  excuse!  FREE WATERCOLOR CLASSES BY TRACY LIZOTTES

Sometimes you just need a fresh perspective – A WISE WAY TO LOOK AT EVENTS THROUGH THE LENS OF HISTORY

And here’s a video I was inspired to create after watching a few author buddies share their own:      A MIDDLE-GRADE CREATIVE WRITING ACTIVITY: FRACTURED FAIRY TALES – JARM DEL BOCCIO

For those of you who are architecture and history buffs: 6 BEAUTIFUL ITALIAN MUSEUMS TO VISIT FREE ONLINE 

I’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS – WHAT GOOD HAVE YOU NOTICED COMING FROM THE COVID-19 CRISIS? Please let me know in the comments below. And if you have a link with helpful tips to get us through, post those as well!

(This post was first published on Jarm’s inspirational blog last month)

 

Jarm book

 

Can an Israelite captive, wrenched from all she loves, serve the very man who destroyed her village?

Miriam is asked to do the impossible: serve the wife of Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. Clinging to treasured memories of home and faith, Miriam faces captivity with worry and bitterness. Little does she know the Heart Changer is wooing and preparing her for a greater mission—far beyond what she could imagine.

This middle-grade historical novel reflects the heartache and angst of a young refugee in a foreign land where all hope seems lost.

The Heart Changer Trailer: http://youtu.be/qM8Hl8Ah0HE

Teacher’s Guide for The Heart Changer: http://ambassador-international.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/TeachersGuide.pdf

 

Jarm

 

Jarm (‘J’ pronounced as a ‘Y’) Del Boccio finds her inspiration in everyday life, but in particular, when she travels the globe, observing the quirky things that happen along the way. Focusing on lives of characters from the past, Jarm is devoted to breathing new life into the pages of history.

Jarm has a background in elementary and high school Art education, and served four years as school librarian. She spent two years in Papua New Guinea, teaching three missionary children in an isolated bush village without modern conveniences.

Jarm Del Boccio is content with the journey God has placed her on, and lives with her husband, adult daughter and son (when he lands at home), in a tree-lined suburb of Chicago. Her debut middle-grade historical fiction, The Heart Changer released with Ambassador International April 26th. You can connect with her at: http://www.jarmdelboccio.com/  or her author’s Facebook or Instagram accounts.

I’d love to Skype or visit with your class! : http://www.jarmdelboccio.com/school-visitsspeaking.html

Kids at home bored? Here’s a Fractured Fairy Tale writing activity for middle school: http://youtu.be/VK_IJKC9Hn4