Story Magician

Come on over to Storymagician.com and my brand new website!

2012-01-27T20:15:00.000-08:00

I am super excited about my revamped website, www.marshadianearnold.com. That's where you'll find my Storymagician blog now, right under "Blogs/Media". You can always find my blog at www.storymagician.com too.

I've enjoyed connecting with students, librarians, teachers, readers, and other writers here. Thanks for visiting.

Now all things "Storymagician" will be in one spot, www.marshadianearnold.com. See you there!

Thank you, Stillson Elementary Creative Writers, for skyping with me today!

2012-01-18T19:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Stillson Elementary Creative Writers,

It was such fun meeting with you today through Skype. I am so inspired that you are seriously pursuing your writing by meeting and talking and thinking and WRITING! Say hooray for yourselves!

I wanted to share that my NEW website should be up by next Wednesday. Check www.marshadianearnold.com then and you'll see a brand new, dynamic site. Under the MEET MARSHA tab you can read a bit about my life and how I started writing. There's also an ASK MARSHA section. If you want to know more about where I get my ideas you can click my books under MAGICAL WRITINGS. I share a bit about each book.

Remember to try to write a little every day, even if only for five minutes. And remember to read the best books you can find, as well as write the best stories you can write. Good writing has a rhythm, a flow. When you read wonderful writing, it will get into your mind and your "bones" and it will help you become a better writer.

And just for you, here's an early draft of ROAR OF A SNORE. If you read the book, you'll see there were LOTS of changes...for the better, I think.

Have fun writing wonderful stories!! And thank you, Ms. Merconti, for making it all happen!

Skyping with Geary Elementary

2011-12-03T08:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's me on the wall, both the child me (from many years ago) and the current me. I use three screens: Keynote for the slideshow, Skype so I can see the students, and Photo Booth so they can see me. Some issues doing it this way, like I don't know WHERE to look, but it works quite well.

Thanks for skyping, Geary Elementary. "Story starters"below.

2011-12-01T19:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the fun Skype chat on Wednesday, Geary Elementary. It was good "seeing" you!

Have any of you started your own Scribbles and Scraps file yet? It can be a file folder, an envelope, a box...anything you want. You can name your file "My Great Idea File" or "Scribbles and Scraps" or "Story Seeds" or make up your own name. It's a great place to keep story ideas that may someday become wonderful stories.

In my writing funshops, I enjoy sharing story ideas with students. Story seeds, I sometimes call them. Below are a few. See what fun stories you can come up with from these story seeds.

1) Some time ago I visited the Galapagos Islands, a group of volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador in South America. On the Galapagos, you find strange and unusual animals. Some, like the marine iguana and the Galapagos tortoise, are found nowhere else on earth.

One of my favorite animals on the Galapagos Islands is the blue-footed booby.

In this photo he appears to be amazed by his own feet!

They are pretty amazing. Bright blue.

This one photo is enough to begin the storytelling process.

What if he didn’t like his blue feet? Can you tell that story?

Or what if he loved his blue feet so much,

he became vain and boastful. Can you tell that story?

This blue-footed booby is your first story seed.

2) Here's your second story seed:

Look at the baby sea lion in the picture below.

He appears a bit lost.

Thankfully he knows how to read signposts!

I wonder where he’s going.

What could you write about this?

Is the sea-lion lost or on an adventure?

Where do you think he's going? To find his mother? To find a friend? To go for a swim in the ocean? To hide from a Galapagos monster? Yikes!

If you want to stay closer to home :-), you might like to write about a pet of your own or a pet that belongs to a friend. Remember how I asked during our Skype chat how many of you had pets or knew a pet? Remember how I told you pets are a good place to get ideas for stories?

You might have a great story about your pet to write. Fantastic! But I'd also like you to consider the third story seed below.

3) Write two letters.

In the first you are writing a letter to your pet. Just a few paragraphs. It might start like this:

Dear Twinkie, Since you’re a cat and can’t come to school, I’m going to tell you what it’s like around here.

In the second letter your pet is writing to you about things that are happening at home. Just a few paragraphs.

Dear Sally, Since I’m a cat and you’re not, I think you should know why I scratched up your bean bag chair last night…

There you have it, Geary Elementary Story Magicians. Three story seeds to lead you into three stories. Have fun!

Skyping through the fall and winter, in my cozy home

2011-11-19T07:36:00.000-08:00

Last week I had the pleasure of chatting with Mary Beth Hudek and her delightful 2nd grade class. They attend Madison Elementary in Middletown, Ohio. I told them a bit about my picture books, answered the students' great questions, and showed them my garden and office (By moving the monitor. Mary Beth, don't tell about the accident I had while moving it! Actually, I spilled my tea, but the students checked out the garden while I cleaned up and soon we were on track again.) Note to self: No tea on my desk while skyping, even if I do have a bad cough.

One of the students took photos of the event, which you'll see below. Great pics! The students were reading and thinking about their questions in the two last photos. They were most insightful.

Thanks for a wonderful visit across the miles!

Skype visit makes Read Aloud West Virginia statewide news

2011-10-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

In June 2011, I chatted with second, third, and fourth graders in a rural part of West Virginia via Skype. Tina Riley, Technology Integration Specialist extraordinaire for Roane County Schools, had worked a year on the project, researching 16 authors. I was the lucky author she selected to skype with and we had a grand time.

In September, Tina contacted me again by e-mail, with the subject heading "News...better than I imagined".

One of the teachers at Reedy Elementary is also part of the Read Aloud committee for West Virginia. She contacted the state director about our Skype visit. The next thing Tina knew the visit had made statewide news. You can read the entire story at http://www.readaloudwestvirginia.org/RoaneSkype.php. I'll also post it below.

Now Tina is arranging for three more West Virginia schools to Skype with me, this time with an honorarium and organized activities at each school. She's also had contact with a college that's interested in learning more about Skype visits with educators and authors.

Congratulations to Tina Riley, a special person and tireless educator and all the educators involved in connecting students with authors and illustrators. May the Skyping continue on.

Here's the wonderful news that was shared with all of West Virginia:

Roane students Skype with author Marsha Arnold

On one of the last days of the 2010 - 2011 school year, Reedy Elementary School’s second, third, and fourth graders hustled into Mrs. Hall’s fourth grade classroom to quickly find a seat. Using web cameras and Skype at promptly 12:30, students dialed to begin traveling across the USA via the computer. On the opposite coast in California, it was 9:30 in the morning and author Marsha Diane Arnold clicked on the phone icon as the computerized phone ring sounded in her home. Students were thrilled to see a split screen come into view as they said hello to Ms. Arnold while at the same time being able to watch themselves!

Thanks to Roane County Schools’ Technology Integration Specialist, Tina Riley, and the Read Aloud WV committee, Reedy Elementary School students were able to spend a twenty minute visit being able to talk with published children’s author, Marsha Diane Arnold. After a quick discussion of the difference in the weather in both places (it was sunny in West Virginia) and a view of the rain in Ms. Arnold’s back yard, the group moved on to the reasons Ms. Arnold became a writer. Ms. Arnold shared her “idea file”, where “jumbles of scribbles and scraps (napkins, envelopes, and check deposit slips to name a few) live”. Ms. Arnold explained how to capture ideas while encouraging students to begin their own idea file.

Ms. Arnold spend another part of their visit showing the process of creating a book by demonstrating how a story and it’s illustration evolve from those jumbles of scribbles and scraps. She emphasized the rewriting process, showing samples of her own rewrites and explained illustration changes from early sketches to the final picture. It certainly gave the students something to think about as they were finally able to stand and one by one ask their questions of Ms. Arnold. From why did you decide to become an author to where did you get the idea to write the book, Roar of the Snore, to how many children do you have, Reedy Elementary students spend the last ten minutes sharing with Ms. Arnold. As the twenty minutes rolled to an end, the students said their good byes and waved to Ms. Arnold.

The “Skype An Author Network” virtual tour between Reedy Elementary School and Ms. Arnold was used as an pilot with the hopes to bring it to the other three county elementary schools in the next school year. After spending almost an entire year viewing the different authors, Tina Riley, Roane County Schools’ Technology Integration Specialist approached the Read Aloud WV committee for help to make this pilot happen. Read Aloud WV Roane County Coordinator, Meg Goffreda offers this advice to other schools wishing to give it a try. “ After had the experience of a virtual visit with an author and having authors visit our school, the discussion and interaction between the author and the students whether in person or on a screen is so very much the same. Once students understand how the technology works and we all know how quickly they are able to adapt, they’re more than happy to carry on the conversation as if the author is right there in the room with them. It was an awesome experience that I would encourage other schools to try. Mrs. Riley’s many talents as our school system’s TIS enabled her to find the website, Skype An Author Network, and be able to set the entire project up for our school. The site alone has thousands of authors who are willing to skype with libraries and schools across the country. While most of the time is a cost involved, some of the authors will provide the service giving twenty minutes for free. Marsha Arnold was one of those special authors and due to her skyping with just one of our county schools, we’re hoping to bring her back for more than the free twenty minutes to do the same of the other Roane County elementary schools. Most published authors have web sites so picking a book and then contacting the author to skype with your class is another option to look into. Skyping is so simple. All the directions for needed materials, how to set, and skyping the other party are all right there on the Skype An Author website. Roane County Schools is so fortunate to have the many talents of our TIS, Tina Riley. We would never have been one of the first school systems in the state of West Virginia to use the Skype An Author (Skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com). Our Read Aloud committee is excited to see what she shares with us next year!”

150 Best Ks Books, THE BRAVEST OF US ALL goes digital, Kansas sesquicentennial and Book Festival

2011-09-24T09:48:00.001-07:00

Dorothy Gale, Amelia Earhart, and Marsha Diane Arnold. What do we have in common? We're all from Kansas! Today Kansas is celebrating some of its "children" and stories at the Kansas Book Festival in Topeka.

It's an especially wonderful festival as this is also the year Kansas is commemorating its sesquicentennial. The Kansas State Library selected 150 "Best" Kansas Books in celebration of 150 years, so this adds a glow to the festival, especially in my eyes as two of my books made the list. Thank you Kansas librarians.

My parents' family, grandparents' family, and great-grandparents' family spent many years farming and surviving on the Kansas plains. They knew dust storms, tornadoes, crop failures, and tornadoes.

Both of my books were inspired by my Kansas roots. Prancing, Dancing Lily, the story of a cow who doesn't fit in with the herd, was inspired by my father's Ayrshire dairy herd.

Helping my father feed an Ayrshire calf on "the farm".

The Bravest of Us All was inspired by my Grandmother Krehbiel's storm cellar, which she and her family used not only for root vegetables and laying hens, but to seek shelter from storms and tornadoes.

Check behind my father and that chicken to see my grandmother's storm cellar.

Illustrator Brad Sneed and I are delighted The Bravest of Us All is now available in digital form. You can find the digital storybook "app" for the iPad and the iPhone on iTunes. Enjoy the story, all about tornadoes, sisters, family, fear, and courage.

Find the Kansas Book Festival at: The Kansas Historical Society, 6425 SE 6th Avenue, Topeka, Ks from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., today, September 24th.

What would you like to know?

2011-09-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

So far this year, I've been booked at two conferences - as a speaker for the California Reading Association in November (http://www.californiareads.org/) and as a speaker/teacher/consultant at David Greenberg's amazing week long Oregon Coast Workshop (http://www.occbww.com/) next July. I would love my readers input!

For CRA, I'll mostly be talking with educators. My talk will be about the honorable and dishonorable in children's literature. I plan to talk about my and other authors' work and about the changes in the publishing world. What would you as an educator like to hear about?

My presentation and workshop in Oregon will be mostly for aspiring writers. I'll be talking about writing picture books, but haven't decided on the specific themes yet. It will be mostly nuts and bolts plus, I hope, lots of fun. What do you as an aspiring writer want to hear about?

Thanks for taking part in my little survey!

I like to think of my first book, HEART OF A TIGER, as perhaps my most "honorable" book.

Delightful morning Skyping with Kindergarteners in South Carolina

2011-09-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

What better way to start the morning than Skyping with happy, enthusiastic kindergarteners. So glad you enjoy my books. Thanks to Mrs. Bean, the other teachers at Stella Maris School, and of course, the delightful kindergarteners. Happy Reading! (Photos to follow soon.)

So glad ROAR OF A SNORE makes you smile, Maya

2011-09-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

I just received the most gracious email from the Smedley family in Tennessee. It's mail like this that keeps me inspired to continue writing for our precious children. Thank you Bryon, Celeste, and sweet Maya for letting me share this with my Story Magician readers.

Just wanted to let you know that my daughter Maya (just shy of 2 1/2 years old) LOVES Roar of a Snore. I have been required to read this to her every night at bedtime for over 100 nights straight. Needless to say, I have the story memorized. She now reads about a third of the book to me when I insert carefully placed pauses in the dialog. Thank you for making my daughter so happy.

That last sentence is glowing inside my heart.

NEW INTERACTIVE BOOK FOR THE BRAVEST OF US ALL

2011-08-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

What happened here?

Where is everyone going?

And why are Velma Jean and Ruby Jane so scared?

Find out when you download my new interactive storybook. THE BRAVEST OF US ALL book went out of print earlier this year, but it's nowavailable to fans in digital form. Recently selected by the Kansas State Library as one of 150 "Best" Kansas books, I'm happy to have this available to educators and students. I know some of are doing play of the story for the KS sesquicentennial. Thank you! Download at iTunes for just $2.99 or follow this link, http://www.myblackdogbooks.com/marsha-diane-arnold/bravest.

Skyping through the summer - with Martin Luther King Family Outreach Center and more

2011-08-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

This summer, I've been busy skyping with libraries, summer camps, and more. It was a surprise that there were so many wanting me to skype during the summer, but I loved it. These photos show one special day with Martin Luther King Family Outreach Center in Spokane, Washington. Each year, the center has a Summer Youth Academy for K-6, where children learn about writing and illustrating. Each class also writes and illustrates a book of their own.

I first open Skype, then my Keynote presentation, and finally Photo Booth on my Mac. Photo Booth allows the children to see myself, as well as the presentation, and I can see them through Skype. My eyes probably look as if they are rolling all over the place...because they are (ha), but it seems to work quite well.

It was a delight being with the children and both Jeani Brickner, Children's Services Director, and Brittini Allen, Program Coordinator, were lovely to work with. Check out their great work at www.mlkspokane.org

Goodbye! We will miss you! - Love those words

2011-06-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

As highlighted in the school district's webpage:

Sparked by training received as a result of winning a grant through the Professional School Library System at PNW BOCES, library media specialist Susan McCormack worked with the BV PTA enrichment coordinator Mrs. Andrea O’Malley to make this first virtual author visit a reality.

Throughout the month of May, students in kindergarten and first grade spent their library class listening to books by author Marsha Diane Arnold. They learned about her life as a child growing up on a farm in Kansas and about the redwood forest that inspires her in her current home in northern California. Students connected to the curriculum as they discussed life in rural communities as compared to urban and suburban ones. Through the use of satellite images, students got a sense of the space and isolation between the great farms of the Midwest Great Plains states compared to the homes spread throughout the communities of Buchanan, Verplanck and the lower Hudson Valley. Students began to make connections between how life experiences inform fiction writing. They learned about tornadoes and bravery while listening to Mrs. Arnold’s story: The Bravest of Us All. They heard how stories based on farm life and animals can be fictionalized and infused with humor in: Roar of and Snore and Prancing, Dancing Lily. Students prepared questions for the author ranging from how she gets ideas for her stories, to how she chooses an illustrator to more personal questions such as does she have any pets?

Using web cameras and Skype, students visited with author Marsha Diane Arnold via computer screen split in three: the author, themselves on camera and the author’s presentation. At the end of her presentation, the kindergarten students called out, “Goodbye, we will miss you!” as the author, Ms. Arnold, signed off. Thanks to the tremendous support of the BV PTA, we hope to make virtual author visits a regular annual occurrence.

First Skype Author Ever at Buchanan-Verplanck students

2011-06-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

When Andrea O'Malley asked if I'd consider being the "First Skype Author Ever at Buchanan-Verplanck", I responded, "Absolutely." I love talking across the miles, from California to New York.

Andrea and Susan McCormack did a wonderful job putting together the "happening". We had such fun, but not enough time to answer the many questions. So I'm answering more of them here.

First, I want to share with everyone that many questions about my books and me can be found at www.marshadianearnold.com. Secondly, I want to thank the great kindergarteners and first graders of Buchanan-Verplanck for a fun time. Thanks so Andrea and Susan also.

One of the first questions I'm asked is "How do you choose an illustrator." The students in New York wanted to know the same.

Most people think the author is the one who chooses their illustrator, but it's actually the editor. The editor, who chooses your story to publish, also chooses the illustrator. Editors are aware of the style of illustration they want for the book and they are aware of many illustrators around the world.

Other questions asked:

1) How do you get story ideas, like the one for Prancing, Dancing Lily?

An idea for a story may develop from something I hear or see or remember. I often begin with a title and the title is often the name of a character. My stories are usually character driven. I enjoy getting to know my character and his/her personality helps me develop the plot.

Prancing, Dancing Lily was inspired by the cows I knew on my father’s Kansas dairy farm. The book is dedicated to “my father, his Ayrshire dream, and all the cows at Highland Ayr dairy farm”. Ayrshires, which originated in County Ayr, Scotland, aren’t a well-known breed, but they are beautiful, with a reddish-brown and white coat and horns that often reach over a foot in length.

2) How did you decide to be an author?

As a child, I loved to read, but I never thought about becoming an author until I was grown and had children of my own. They and their friends were what inspired me to write. You can read more about that under "About Me" on my website, www.marshadianearnold.com.

3) How old were you when you wrote your first book?

I'm what some call a late-bloomer. My first book wasn't published until I was in my 40's.

4) Where do you write your books?

Writing is a wonderful profession because you can write wherever you are. But I prefer to write in my office, in my home, surrounded by the beautiful countryside.

5) How many books have you written?

I've had 11 books published and hope to have many more. This summer I'm working on a chapter book for all of you.

6) Do you have any pets?

I adore animals and don't know what I'd do without some animals around. I have three cats. I've had German Shepherds and a Boxer, but have no dog at the moment. I would love to have another dog soon.

Judy Moody is my friend

2011-06-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

Megan McDonald, author of the popular Judy Moody books, says that sometimes she thinks she is Judy Moody. Thus the title of my post today. This post is dedicated especially for all you kids who are big fans of Judy Moody, Stink, and the first Judy Moody movie, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.

Last week I got an email from Megan inviting me to invite our old writers' group crowd to a weekend of Judy Moody festivities here in Sonoma County. You see, we all heard the very first Judy Moody drafts when Megan was part of our writers' group. So, the "old" writers' group met at Screamin' Mimi's Ice Cream Shop in Sebastopol for a little reunion, a little ice cream, a little book signing, and of course, to congratulate Megan on the opening of Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer. We sampled two special Judy Moody ice cream flavors - Moody's Mud and Thrillalectric. We even got to meet the delightful Jordana Beatty who portrays Judy Moody in the movie.

Awaiting the arrival of the real Judy Moody.

Myself and Teri Sloat waiting...

The REAL Judy Moody - Megan, who wrote it, and Jordana, who plays her.

Megan and Jordana

The once and always great Sebastopol Writers' Group -
Lisa Shulman, Me - Marsha Diane Arnold,
Megan McDonald, Jordana Beatty (No, not in the group...too young when it began.)
Teri Sloat, Matthew Gollub, Susan Meyers.
Missing in a bookstore somewhere - David Schwartz

Matthew Gollub and I sharing a special Judy Moody flavor - Thrillalectric. Yum!

Inaugural Technology Day at West Elementary School

2011-06-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

I had a fabulous Skype visit on June 9th with West Elementary School in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Yes, that Plymouth - the historical"America's Hometown", the site of the colony founded by the Pilgrims in 1620.

Amazing first grade teacher, Andy Young, invited me to be part of the annual school Read-A-Thon and their INAUGURAL Technology Day. It's such fun to be part of something new that will be a continuing tradition for students.

Thank you Andy and West Elementary second graders.

Thanks to Fairfield and the Trinity Star Arts Council

2011-06-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when I visit schools, the community goes above and beyond. That's what Fairfield, Texas did this May when I spoke with the Elementary and Intermediate schools. Authors are so lucky to be able to meet new friends all over the world and experience new things...all because they wrote a book.

It was the marvelous folks of the Trinity Star Arts Council who put these visits together. The council is a non profit organization whose members are committed to the enrichment of Freestone county through the arts.

Below are a few photos of my friends Bev and John, a visit to an exotic animal ranch, and a celebratory BBQ at a beautiful Texas ranch.

Thanks for the memories, Trinity Star and Fairfield schools.

My dear friend & sweet hostess, Bev Awalt

Host John Awalt

Invited to a ranch full of exotic animals

The donkey who thinks he's a zebra

Miniature horses who think they are regular size horses!

Bev gets up close with a llama

Marsha and elk

Joy in flight

Amazing Rachel, educator extraordinaire

Texas longhorns

Heart of a Tiger cookies

Texas style hospitality and BBQ

Thank you West Virginia for the delightful Skype visit

2011-06-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

Showing the Tiger's "heart".

Tina Riley is the energetic, enthusiastic Technology Integration Specialist for the Roane County Schools in West Virginia. She worked to make our June visit a reality and was so excited by the success of the event, she's planning more skype visits for next year. Tina, students, and educators were attentive listeners and asked great questions. Thanks for a great Skype visit and thanks for your wonderful thank you notes.

Skype with 2nd, 3rd, 4th graders - such great listeners.

Tina looks on as our Skype session begins.

A Big Texas Welcome from Fairfield

2011-06-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

In early May I had fabulous school visits with the wonderful students of Fairfield Elementary and Fairfield Intermediate. What a Texas-size welcome I had from Angie Hernandez, Rachel Bossier, and the students at Fairfield Intermediate. Kameron was the M.C. and other students shouted their welcome. Kameron should be a newscaster. As we walked through the school he announced, "Welcome" wherever we turned. Thank you Fairfield! (More about the Fairfield visit to come.)

Thank you Prairie Grove Elementary First Graders & Ms Webb

2011-05-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

As my character Prancing, Dancing Lily would say, "Cowabunga!" I had a fabulous 15 minutes with the first graders at Prairie Grove Elementary this morning. They have been writing their own stories. We talked about the importance of being a good Story Magician and other writerly matters.

Even though I couldn't see you in real time, first graders, I enjoyed seeing your bright, shining faces. I can tell you are a moovelous class. Oh, I mean marvelous. :-)

Skype, skype, I love to skype

2011-05-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

One of the benefits of the technological revolution is being able to chat with people all over the globe without traveling there. Every month this school year I've visited kids and teachers through Skype. I have more visits coming up in May and July, one in Mexico. Here's a photo of some of the fabulous first graders I skyped with in Easton, Pennsylvania. Thank you fabulous first graders and Ms Cianfaglione for a wonderful visit.

"It was truly a great experience for the kids!" First grader teacher, Jennifer Cianfaglione

MORE BOOK CHARACTERS COME TO LIFE

2011-04-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Here are more fun photos of some of the Branson Primary students...and teachers too...dressed up as characters from my books. Mesa Mitchell's class wrote me the sweetest email saying, "We are story magicians." What could be better?

Sophie LeBeque from METRO CAT

Kindergarten teachers get into the spirit.
Misty Morre, Dana Round, and Myra McNeil.
From QUICK, QUACK, QUICK, THE PUMPKIN RUNNER, and HUGS ON THE WIND

Tiger from HEART OF A TIGER and more.

Skunks from THE TAIL OF LITTLE SKUNK, Joshua Summerhayes from THE PUMPKIN RUNNER, and more.

Love those Sophie LeBeques from METRO CAT.

MY CHARACTERS CAME TO LIFE

2011-04-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

When I visited Branson Primary in March, I was delighted to see multiples of some of my favorite characters walking into the room. There were fancy Sophie LeBeques...oh, so fancy...from Metro Cat, Jack Huffles and Old Dog Blues from Roar of a Snore, Little Cottontails from Hugs on the Wind, Quacks from Quick, Quack, Quick, tigers from Heart of a Tiger, Joshua Summerhayes from The Pumpkin Runner, and lots of Little Skunks from The Tail of Little Skunk. Here are a couple of photos of the sweetest skunks plus other characters from Mesa Mitchell's class.

WE LOVE HUGS CLUB - BEST MEMBERS EVER

2011-04-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

Mesa Mitchell, kindergarten teacher extraordinaire, sent more photos of her class sending hugs, by way of balloon. She has been teaching them all year about reading and writing. It was great fun to be at their school and talk books with them. If you'd like to join the WE LOVE HUGS CLUB and get stickers to wear, follow this link:We Love Hugs Club stickers

HUGS ON THE WIND

2011-04-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

Branson Primary in Branson, Missouri sent hugs on the wind by balloon. I love it. I don't recall any class ever doing this before. A wonderful way to remember those we love and miss, whether near or far.

When I visit schools, I have the younger students send hugs to someone they miss with me. We think of someone we miss, make a hug with our arms over our heads, and Whish...Whish...let the wind take them.

Love those School Visits!

2011-04-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

A few more photos from my recent trip to Missouri. Look at these creative kids! Go, kids, go!!

So much amazing art from the students!

A serious conversation about writing.

Making a point...maybe...

The kids had individual stories and photos of them snoring also! Fabulous.

Kim Pingleton, librarian, and myself. Look at the wonderful silhouettes of my characters.

THE LAMB WHO LOVES LIBRARIES VISITS MISSOURI

2011-04-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

My friend, The Lamb Who Loves Libraries, has been traveling with me to libraries throughout the land. Here are the wonderful school libraries we visited recently in Missouri.

Lamb and a new friend go for a row in the Branson
Elementary's Library Boat.

The fabulous Cynthia Matzat and myself in
the library's rowboat. I visited Cindy and Branson Elem. in 2006
and had to stop by to say hello. She's always combining
fun and learning. Library Media Specialist extraordinaire.

Making friends at Pleasant Hill Primary.
Our 2nd visit.
Thank you, wonderful Tricia Beaman.

Thank you Mrs. Mercer and class for writing this book.

Reading at Maplecrest School library.

The amazing librarian, Maryann Campbell, and myself at
Maplecrest School, Lebanon, MO. 2nd visit. Love it there.

Lamb takes a ride at Branson Primary.

Librarian Kendra McCormick and myself
visiting Branson Elementary.

The library at Branson Elementary East is a pleasure to be in,
especially with librarian, Kim Pingleton.
Lamb enjoyed meeting the Library Dragon.

Lamb at Branson Elementary East with new friends.

Walt Disney Elementary, in Marceline, Walt Disney's childhood home.
They'd just removed his elementary school desk to go to the musuem before we took the photo.
All things Disney in Marceline.
Thank you, Beth Yount, for inviting me.

Lots of hats in the Walt Disney Elementary Library.
Lamb liked this one.

Traveling through Missouri and Arkansas

2011-03-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

I'm visiting schools and libraries in Missouri and Arkansas. It's a fabulous time with kids, educators, parents, and other writers.

The students at Branson Elementary East helped keep me on my toes yesterday. (Yes, over a week of presentations and writing "funshops" can be wearing too.) One student told me, as she left the assembly, that I'd been saying "non-fiction" when I meant "fiction". Thank you. These kids are SO smart! They also wondered why I called my character in Roar of a Snore Maggie instead of Molly on my March post to them. So sorry. I meant Molly Olsen. Where did Maggie come from? Maybe I was thinking of another story I'm currently working on - Maggie and The Halloween Monsters.

Thank you, Branson Elementary East students, for helping to keep me on my toes and for being so patient when I was sipping tea and coughdrops in an effort not to loose my voice. As Lily would say, "You are MOOvelous."

The Lamb Who Loves Libraries

2011-03-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

I am starting a new tradition here at Storymagician. Because of some school policies, I can't always share photos of the beautiful students I meet on my author visits. But my puppet, THE LAMB WHO LOVES LIBRARIES always travels with me. So starting with the fabulous Pleasant Valley Elementary in Novato, CA, I will be posting pictures of Lamb in the school library or maybe Lamb and myself or maybe both after each school visit. At least, that's my plan. So, ta-dah, here is are the first photos to begin the new tradition.

The Lamb Who Loves Libraries at
Pleasant Valley Library, Novato, CA

Marsha with The Lamb Who Loves Libraries

Thank you Pleasant Valley Elementary

2011-03-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

I had the most delightful day with the students and educators at Pleasant Valley Elementary last Friday. They even brought out the good china dishes for our luncheon. Thank you!

And here is what a traveling author loves to see as she/he pulls into a busy school parking lot. Thank you again!

An activity for my Missouri friends

2011-03-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

I'll be visiting your school soon, Missouri friends. If you'd like to do some storytelling before I arrive, here's a suggestion. Have you read ROAR OF A SNORE? How would you like to write ROAR OF A SNORE 2?

All stories have a main character. In ROAR OF A SNORE, the main character is Jack.
All stories have a setting or a place where they happen. In ROAR OF A SNORE, the setting is the farmhouse and the barn.
All stories have a problem or a plot. In ROAR OF A SNORE, the problem is that Jack can't sleep because of the loud snore.

For ROAR OF A SNORE 2, I'd like you to use Molly Olsen, the girl at the end, as your main character.

Molly will have the same problem as Jack. She’ll be awakened by a very loud snore.

But I want you to make the setting different. Instead of a farmhouse and barn, think of a really unusual place, or a far away place, or an imaginary place. Think of a place where there might be really funny snores or scary snores. Maybe the jungle. Maybe a haunted house. Use your imagination and have fun.

Heart of a Tiger used in anti-bullying program

2011-02-21T19:09:00.000-08:00

My Heart of a Tiger is often used to inspire and encourage readers to follow their dreams, but Mars Centennial used it in their anti-bullying program. Perhaps other schools would be interested. Here's what was written in their newsletter:

Fifth-graders Meet Author Via Skype

Fifth-graders at Mars Area Centennial School had an opportunity to meet children’s book author Marsha Diana Arnold of California last week via Skype.

As part of the school’s “Planet Peace” anti-bullying program, the students read Arnold’s book, “Heart of a Tiger.” The book is about a cat named Four, who has to choose a name based on his own characteristics and personality.

“The kids pulled a lot from the story,” says Tammy Mitchell, fifth grade teacher. “Some of the responses from our discussion were, ‘Don’t try to be someone else, because you are great the way you are,’ and ‘You can’t judge someone on what they are on the outside; you have to look inside to get to know someone.’”

In their math classes, the students are counting the number of letters, vowels and consonants in their names and are collecting data and writing fractions identifying mean, median, mode and range. All of the information will be displayed on a graph in the classroom.

The students also participated in a “home project” to identify the meaning and origin of their names.

The Bravest of Us All is one of 150 "Best" Kansas books

2011-01-26T12:19:00.000-08:00

I received wonderful news from Julie Branstetter Krehbiel this morning. She works as a librarian in Kansas, so is up on all things librarian.

Two of my books are on the 150 "Best" Kansas Books selected by the State Library for the Kansas sesquicentennial: Prancing, Dancing Lily and The Bravest of Us All. Both were inspired by my Kansas family, so I'm delighted. If you want to read about the "story behind the story" you can find it at my Book Gallery on my website, www.marshadianearnold.com.

Let me show you a picture of part of the family who inspired The Bravest of Us All. This is my father and his brothers. Velma Jean and Ruby Jane weren't born yet here. There were 8 in all, but only 7 in the book. I felt 8 was one too many to make my illustrator, Brad Sneed, deal with. And 7 is my lucky number. :-)

Creative Spaces

2011-01-11T15:06:00.000-08:00

I am delighted to have been asked by Jennifer Bertman to be part of her Creative Spaces. Jennifer has a wonderful blog, which I find visually stunning. You can find her at www.writerjenn.blogspot.com. I'm the interview for January 10th, 2011. What a lovely way to begin the New Year.

I think the space in which we live and work is very important. Beauty begets beauty. That's why I feel so lucky to have a beautiful space to work and a beautiful garden to look out on.

Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Olen Butler suggests finding a place and objects where you go and engage with only when you're writing fiction. It's a way to help writers get into the zone. Good idea, I think. But he cautions that if you're traveling or somewhere else that doesn't excuse you from writing every day (with maybe one day off.)

So here's my creative space, my writing room. Thank you, Jennifer, for coming to visit.

Marsha Diane Arnold's Creative Space

Skyping across the miles

2010-12-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

I love visiting students all over the world in person, but if I can't always travel to them, I enjoy skyping as well. Amy Johnson, Technology Integration Specialist with Parkway School District in St. Louis, MO recently arranged a skype visit between Hanna Woods School and me. The school had just purchased all of my books to do an author study (Thank you Hannah Woods.) They had great questions when we met. Here's what's truly grand. They have a "friend" class in Oklahoma that did an author study and skype visit with another author. After everyone had completed skype visits, the two "friend" classes skyped to share what they'd learned from both authors. Round and round we go with Skype! I'm getting dizzy!

2010-11-04T17:11:00.000-07:00

I just finished putting information packets and Letters of Agreement in the mail to Missouri and Texas schools. I'd love to add schools to these visits, so if you live in Missouri or Texas and would like me to visit your school, let me know. I'm currently booked in Missouri the week of March 21st and would love to stay for the week of March 28th. I'm booked in Fairfield, Texas (Dallas area) on May 5th and would love to be there at least a week.

Of course, if you're not from Missouri or Texas, I'd love to see you to. Just contact me through my website, www.marshadianearnold.com

Everyone's a Story Magician

2010-10-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

My SCBWI regional advisors, Erin Dealey and Patti Newman arranged for a videographer to video the Norca group. It was scary, but a wonderful learning experience. I hope lots of teachers and librarians invite me to their schools, so lots of kids will learn the Storymagician rap.

"Roar of a Snore" in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

2010-09-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

This is surprising, but I don't think I've mentioned the fabulous honor of Roar of a Snore being selected for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. I got a letter from Dolly herself in May!

This is one reason I like Google Alerts. It reminds me of things and it tells me about events like this reading, where my book was read to a classroom in Tennessee.

Thank you Dolly. Thank you Peggy.

Roar of a Snore in Tennessee

Thanks for a great time, San Anselmo Montessori!

2010-09-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

Today I visited SAMS for the third time in 6 years. It's always a delight. What a beautiful setting, dedicated teachers, and lovely children. I shared my book ROAR OF A SNORE, then the young story magicians, ages 3-6, helped me write ROAR OF A SNORE II, set in a zoo with a new main character, Josie Jo. A roomful of imagination! The school gives each student a book, which I had the pleasure of signing. We should all be grateful to schools like SAMS for giving young minds such a healthy beginning.

HUGS ON THE WIND on RippleReader.com

2010-05-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

Hugs on the Wind is available as an e-book on Ripple Reader. You can record your voice, so that your little reader can hear you reading the story to them. What a great concept. Hugs on the Wind is a lovely bedtime story. Little Cottontail misses his grandfather and all they shared. As he plays in the meadow, he thinks of ways that the wind, stars, stream, and trees can help him send hugs, kisses, and other messages to his grandfather. The story is about being separated, making the story meaningful to any child who misses a loved one. Here's the link: http://www.ripplereader.com/Book.aspx?id=1386&Title=Hugs%20on%20the%20WindAND

Demmitt Elementary in my Top Ten

2010-05-23T15:44:00.001-07:00

I've visited hundreds of schools and thousands of students over the years. Demmitt Elementary is now in my Top Ten. I love you Demmitt Elementary students, educators, and parents. I'm so lucky I got to spend 3 whole days with you.

Their welcome included a limo ride to school, a beautiful calla lily plant (which I'll be planting in my California garden soon), and a welcome assembly which included a conga line, welcome song, and full-blown production of my book ROAR OF A SNORE (http://tiny.cc/qc3xh), complete with orchestra led by virtuoso music teacher, Melinda Wissel. Wow! Double Wow!

Below are some of the dedicated teachers of Demmitt. Beth Green, who started the wheels in motion and invited me to Ohio, is to the left of me. She's a lady who makes things happen!
Because of Beth, the students had skyped with me prior to arrival. The fabuloso teachers encouraged the students to write about my suggestions. Writing projects lined the halls.
Students chose their own name, like Little Four did in HEART OF A TIGER.They wrote ROAR OF A SNORE II with Molly Olsen as the main character and a brand new setting. A series is beginning!Fourth graders made journal entries about their trip to Camp Kern,a la"Artists in the Backyard'. They also chose their favorite of my novel beginnings, explained why, and designed book covers for my "hopefuls". Thank you! You're inspiring me onward with my writing.The students and I had two days of Funshops. What a pleasure to spend two whole days with small groups. We had fun with writing games, word play and writing stories. Boy, did those kids write. What grand creators.

And can those Ohioans cook! Yum. The first day I had lunch with students. Check out the animal cupcakes made by Super PTO Vice-President, reminiscent of animals in ROAR OF A SNORE.

The next two days, teachers provided scrumptious lunches. Melanie Huffstetler, teacher and Cake Lady, baked the most delightful creation, a HUGS ON THE WIND cake. A perfectly beautiful and perfectly delicious dessert. You can find more of her amazing work at www.mels-celebrations.com.A bushel full of thank yous to the Demmitt community. I wish that you each find your unique style like PRANCING, DANCING LILY, do what you love like THE PUMPKIN RUNNER, and follow your dream like Little Four in HEART OF A TIGER. You are each a wonder!

GREETINGS, DEMMITT ELEMENTARY

2010-04-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

Hello students of Vandalia, Ohio! I'm so excited about skyping with all of you this month and visiting you in person next month. Your fabulous Beth Green has been planning and emailing with me for weeks. We will have lots of fun writing, imagining, and creating.

I have fun planned for you already. First of all, I'd like you to look at my March 7th entry "please choose your favorite story idea". Then choose. My children are grown-up, so it helps me to know what kids your age are thinking and what you like.

Secondly, I'd like you to think about two things: your dreams and doing what you love. These two actually go hand in hand.

Have you read my book, Heart of a Tiger? In it the kitten Four has a big dream. On his Naming Day, he wants to give himself a name like that of the magnificent Bengal Tiger. But if he chooses such a name, he can only keep it if all the other animals agree it's a fair and honest name. The name he gives himself is the name he'll live with for the rest of his life.

If you could choose your name on Naming Day, what would your name be? Think about it. It's a big decision.

Have you read my book, The Pumpkin Runner? In it, Joshua Summerhayes runs a 500 mile race, just for the love of it.

Think about what you do, just for the love of it. What do you love doing?

What would your name be? What do you love doing? Both of these relate to your dreams, what you want to do in life and what you want to be in life. These are big questions. We'll talk more about them when I see you in Ohio.

In the meantime, keep reading, keep writing, and keep doing what you love!

A Literary Yellow Brick Road

2010-04-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

I am going to be learning Youtube. This is my first little venture, thanks to www.youtube.com/searchstories. Try it. It's fun.

Readers, please choose your favorite story idea

2010-03-07T12:51:00.000-08:00

On March 5th, I had great fun visiting Sunset Ridge Elementary. I asked the 4th and 5th graders to check my blog March 8th. That's today!
I'm sharing short descriptions and a few sentences from several of my story ideas here. I've started each of these stories, but only just.

All of my blog readers are invited to choose the one that sounds like the story you'd most like to read. Thanks to all for your thoughts!

Drum Roll here................

Your choices are:

1) Wu Lan and the Dancing Horses
A story based on the dancing horses of the Tang Dynasty in China. It will be from the point of view of a stable boy or girl whose father is in charge of caring for the horses.

"Wu Lan's heart pounded like a thousand drums. On his right pranced Water Spirit, draped in rubies and emeralds. To his left was Sky Climber, black mane tied in gold and silver ropes. And before him, in red silk dragon robes, sat the Emperor of all China."

2) Radical

Jazz Sullivan likes life well-measured and safe, just like her cooking. But when her mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, life turns experimental. Her mom has no hair, her little brother believes he's a superhero, her new neighbor's a punk rocker, and the new puppy Radical is chewing at her heart as well as her shoes.

"My dad says there are some things in life that can fix anything. For Dad, it's the Acme ten-in-one wrench. For my little brother Stryker, it's his superhero cape. For me, it's Magnum Opus Chocolate cookies. I guess for Mom it was a dog, because one week after the doctor told her she had breast cancer, she decided we needed a dog."

3) Noah and the Secret of the Yellow Dragon

Hundreds of years ago, an evil sorcerer, jealous of the yellow dragons' powers, conjured an evil spell to trap the dragons. There is just one way to break the spell. Only a person with a True Heart will be able to discover that secret. Can timid Noah set the dragons free?

"Sarban was smiling. 'The dragons keep me company,' he explained. ' Sometimes in this house it is lonely'.
'If it's company you want, why do you stay behind the iron gate?' asked Noah.
'If I could go beyond the gate, I would,' replied Sarban. 'It is not within my power.'

4) Mugwart and Abigail

Abigail Eliza Bingle thinks her dreams of going on a dinosaur dig are crushed when her Dad, professor of paleontology in New York City, goes on sabbatical, moving the family to a small town in Connecticut. But her new friend, Mugwart, rescued from the Mosstown Humane Society, leads her to not only new friends and adventures, but a dinosaur dig in her own backyard.

" 'Dinosaur, Dad, you've done it again!'
Abigail Eliza Bingle had on her favorite baseball hat, backwards, her favorite polka-dog dress, frontwards, and her favorite Halloween socks, one up and one down. But even her favorite clothes couldn't cheer her up."

nathaliemvondo.wordpress interview

2010-02-16T18:06:00.000-08:00

Nathalie Mvondo rocks, as does her Multiculturalism Rocks blog. She just put up a wonderful interview of moi. http://bit.ly/aivCCv

More NYC pics

2010-02-14T11:50:00.001-08:00

Simply can't forget the laugh-producing doggies at Madison Square Park. If you're ever in the Big Apple, stop at this great little burger place. Really yummy malts. I have a great affinity for all animals and especially dogs. They often appear in my stories.

NYC in January

2010-02-14T11:46:00.001-08:00

A New Year begins in NYC

2010-02-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

NYC is the most. Just the most. I loved visiting in late January/early February. I loved seeing snow flurries, my son who lives just a few blocks from Grand Central Station, my two gracious editors, squirrels and doggies in Madison Square Park, and all the wonderful writers and illustrators at the SCBWI Winter Conference.

California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom

2009-12-01T16:11:00.000-08:00

October 24th, I had the pleasure of being one of the keynote speakers at the Ca Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. I really knew almost nothing about this organization prior to the invitation, but what a great group this is. Really wonderful people. If you'd like to hear a bit from some of my stories, here's my reading from THE PUMPKIN RUNNER, PRANCING,DANCING LILY, and ROAR OF A SNORE.

7 Magical Ways to Bring Out the Storyteller in you

2009-10-04T02:29:00.000-07:00

September 21st I was honored to give a presentation for the new North Bay series of SCBWI workshops (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators). What a great group of writers, artists, and creatives gathered at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. It was great fun. A number of people in other areas far from the North Bay were interested, but couldn't attend, so I'll share here. I won't be able to give my entire hour talk, but I'll share the best part - the 7 magical ways. :-)

First, I started with a quote from one of my favorite movies, AUSTRALIA. At the beginning of the film, the narrator, an aboriginal child of mixed-race, begins in this way: "My grandfather, King George, he takea me on walk-abouts, teach me black fellow way. Grandfather teacha me most important lesson of all - tellum story."

There are massive changes happening in the literary world, but no matter how things change, the world will always, in some form, have stories and storytellers. So, let's spin some magic...and some stories.

MAGICAL WAY 1
Quieten
Hush-sh-sh. Be still
Let silence surround you.
Then shout out, loud and clear!
Can you feel it? Can you hear?

I talked about the importance of truly listening to the wonder around us and also the importance of reading our work out loud.

MAGICAL WAY 2
Weave
A labyrinthian path
To find the way,
Move out, Move in,
And once again Move out.

This magical way is all about giving your story an outer adventure and an inner adventure.

MAGICAL WAY 3
'Trouble, oh we need trouble.
Right here in our stories!
With a capital "T"
That rhymes with "C",
And that stands for Conflict.
We surely need trouble!"

With great apologies to "The Music Man" and Meredith Wilson. :-) This magical way is about having conflict in your stories. The trouble can be with yourself, with others, with society, or with nature. It doesn't matter with what as long as it's there.

MAGICAL WAY 4
Be patient. Push forward.
After hours of spinning ideas in the air.
You've got to put bootie onto your chair.

Being a writer is all about patience. At the same time we must persevere. E.B. White, the author of CHARLOTTE'S WEB spent a year studying spiders before he started writing about one.

MAGICAL WAY 5
Study the craft.
Be open to the art.

The muse is a tease.
She plays hide and seek.
So study your craft
Or your future is bleak.

If the muse, the art, ever does show up, it will probably be when we're practicing our craft. So study your genre, know it inside and out.

MAGICAL WAY 6
Stories need resolution.
You must resolve as well.
If you don't make it to the end
There'll be no story to tell.

Resolution of the story is how the problem gets solved. You get to your story resolution by knowing where your story is headed. By having a goal. You get a story resolution by knowing your character.

MAGICAL WAY 7
There is no magical way.
There's only your way...and the story's. ;-)

This doesn't mean you shouldn't practice the previous ways. Nor does it give you permission to let your ego guide the way. Ego just gets in the way of your story.

Think of your story as an entity and let it lead the way.

So, Storymagicians, now that you know some magic, go "tellum story".

Kids Otter Read Day

2009-05-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hillary Homzie, Patti Newman, Katherine Tillotson, and I had a delightful time together at Copperfield’s in Napa, California on Saturday. All in celebration of Kids Otter Read Day. Independent bookstores around the Bay Area joined in.Jorgen Gulliksen of the Napa Valley Register took the great photo with little Leah. Check it out at www.napavalleyregister.com

2009-05-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

Katherine Tillotson (When the Library Lights Go Out) designed this delightful flyer to announce our group's appearance at Copperfield's in Napa, California, as part of the Kids Otter Read Day around the Bay, May 16th from 1-3 p.m.. Hillary Homzie (Things Are Gonna Get Ugly), and Patricia Newman (Jingle the Brass) will join Katherine and myself with readings, activities, and treats! Spread the word and if you're near Napa, please stop by and join the fun! I'll be reading from my latest book, "Roar of a Snore".

Wisconsin SCBWI Spring Luncheon

2009-05-05T19:29:00.000-07:00

Kendra Levin, Viking editor, was our inspiring speaker at the luncheon.

Wonderful Wisconsin & Marvelous Missouri

2009-05-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Author visits are such fun in so many ways. I did presentations as well as lots of writing funshops during my April sojourn. I was interviewed on a St. Joseph television station. I reconnected with wonderful acquaintances, a high school friend, and my niece. I attended the SCBWI Wisconsin spring luncheon, which was lovely. Viking editor Kendra Levin spoke and was smart, warm, and gracious. Here's a link to one teacher's blog, where she shares photos of my visit: www.konitzer.blogspot.com.

Wisconsin and Missouri School Visits

2009-05-03T21:44:00.000-07:00

Just returned from a wonderful two weeks of school visits in Wisconsin and Missouri. I usually do presentations and just a few writing workshops, but this trip, I did lots of writing workshops with groups from K to 8. I had a wonderful time!

I always talk about ideas for stories and also how an idea isn't a story, but needs well-defined characters and a strong plot to become a story. In my thank you notes from some of the younger students, they shared some of their ideas for stories:

The pencil that talks. (I might steal this one. :-) )
What you need to know about dinosaurs.
Learn the Spanish alphabet.
Babies attack me and my family. (Intriguing...and scary!)
Healthy foods. (Love this girl.)
A silent world. (Could this child be craving silence in this noisy world?)
A cupcake land. (Yum.)
Aliens versus robots.
The attack of the giant tarantulas. (HELP!)
Robot monkeys in space. (Brilliant.)

How To Be a Reading Mentor

2009-04-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

*****READ A STORY.*****
***TELL A STORY.***
**WRITE A STORY.**
*BE A STORY!*

We seem to enjoy making things complicated in our world. Often things are very simple. Reading with your child should not be something you are afraid of because you are overwhelmed with advice, information, or lists of “must-read” books. It should be fun.

Read to foster a love for language in your child and a wonder about our world. Read together to have fun and to enjoy each other’s company.

Below are some thoughts and ideas you might enjoy trying:

*** Read aloud with your child –

Twenty minutes a day is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, but if you don’t have twenty minutes, read anyway! Read a few poems together in five minutes. (My children loved Shel Silverstein.) What’s important is to expose our children to print and to allow them to hear the beauty and rhythm of strong narrative.

We’re not sounding out words here, we’re sharing wonderful stories!

Make read-aloud time special. Flop on pillows. Make hot chocolate…or…

Read with expression and be versatile. Take turns reading. Have each family member bring one book to share.

*** Be a Reading Mentor

Does your child see you reading? How many books are in your home? If you can’t afford a lot of new books, you can still have a shelf full of library books. My library allows me to check out 30 at a time!

*** Connect Children to the real people behind the books

It’s important for children to know there are real people and real artists behind the wonderful stories you’re sharing. Children should know that telling stories is something any of us can do.

Bring an author to visit your school on a special “Author’s Day”.

Take your child to the bookstore when an author visits.

Visit the website of a favorite author and learn about him/her.

*** Visit your local library

As soon as your child can write his own name, take him to get his own library card. Then have a celebration!

Find a librarian who knows children’s literature. They can help tailor reading to a child’s interests.

***Visit bookstores

Allow your child to browse the children’s area.

Purchase books as gifts together.

***Connect books to real life situations This helps answer questions children may have about the world around them.
Books to explore:
How to Get your Child to Love Reading - Esme Raji Codell
Read-Aloud Handbook – Jim Trelease

Websites to explore:
www.trelease-on-reading.com

www.marshaoakarnold.com ☺

Kids like to explore “the story behind the story” to discover where the ideas for my books came from. There are also activities under “Parents and Teachers” and “Fun

***Tell your own stories

Share stories of your childhood with your child or begin your own “book” full of childhood memories to share with your children.

Assist your child in writing a story. Write down the words as your child tells it. Then let your child read her own story.

Have fun with Magic Word Bags. Use a fun/fancy purse or bag as a Magic Word Bag. Fill it with pieces of paper with a word on each piece. When you child pulls out one, have him make up a sentence with the word in it. Depending on age, time, etc., he can make up a whole story around this word. With older children, you can use three separate bags and fill them with ideas for characters, settings, and problems. Your child can pull one idea from each bag and create a story around these. Watch out for some WILD, WILD stories!

Imagination and play

2009-04-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

Think of your imagination as a muscle. If you don't exercise it, it will wither away. Actually, it will just lie beneath the surface, buried, so no one can see it. Imagination is always there for you to call upon when you're ready.

Playfulness is a pre-requisite for creativity, I think. Adults should add "PLAY" to their "To Do" lists. Play makes us joyful and also releases our creative juices. So, take a play break and make a break through...to you!

My book HEART OF A TIGER

2009-04-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

Children latch onto stories of hope and cling to them for dear life. Each story becomes a foothold to their dreams. I think children relate so strongly to HEART OF A TIGER, not only because they like tigers and cats, but because it's a story of hope. You might be small, like Little Four, but you can still have a big dream that can be accomplished in your own way.

The Blogging Begins

2009-04-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

I have been so uncomfortable with the idea of blogging and putting my ideas out into the universe quickly, off-the-cuff. Today, though, while preparing for student workshops in Wisconsin, I found an old file full of ideas and scribblings. I threw quite a few away before I realized these could be recycled onto my blog. So I shall share them now with the universe...and you. I should be blogging a little more consistently than once a year now, at least for awhile. :-) I may share some of the ideas on Facebook, so if you know me from there, you may get a double dose.

March 15, 2005, I wrote "Writing a story is like looking down a long, curvy, dangerous road and not having any idea where it will lead you." Maybe it's really not so dangerous, but it is curvy!

Living in a Tech World when I grew up in a house with no hot water

2009-04-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

I grew up in the 1950's in a house in the country with basically no running water. As I recall, we had a bit of cold water from some type of rain system on the roof. My brother and I took baths in the "wash house", and we went to the bathroom in the "outhouse". I'm glad those days are over, but they were easy compared to navigating the tech world we live in today! :-) At least, it feels that way sometimes.

I just spent about 3 hours trying to figure out how to connect my Storymagician blog to my Amazon pages. I finally thought I had it figured out, but I still see no RSS feed on Amazon. Perhaps it all begins with my next blog...this blog. So this is really a test...and a bit of a rant.

I'll be spending a week in Wisconsin and a week in Kansas at the end of April visiting schools. I'm very excited about my visits and hope to include some "Artists in the Backyard" moments in my workshops. I'll also be seeing some wonderful Wisconsin ladies I met at a writing conference in Chautauqua Institute in New York several years ago and a high school friend. It's wonderful when my school visits allow me to meet not only wonderful new friends at schools, but reconnect with old friends too.

2009-03-05T10:39:00.000-08:00

2009-03-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

Artists in the Back Country

2009-03-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

In August of 2008, I was honored to be one of seven artists invited by Sequoia Parks Foundation to be in their "Artists in the Back Country" program. I'm the only children's author ever invited. We spent a week in the Golden Trout Wilderness of the Sierra Nevadas, California. What an adventure! My wonderful, sure-footed horse Dennis saw me through some scary times on the high trails.

On our trip was a National Geographic photographer, a fine photographer, a painter, a Hugo award winning science-fiction writer, naturalists and more. It was a wonderful group to get to know.

I now offer my "Artists in the Back Country" workshop to schools. I use my experience in the wilderness and other exotic locations to inspire students, using images and activities to encourage their appreciation and understanding of the natural world afar and near. We work on writing non-fiction, fiction, and poetry about nature in their own backyard.

Author Visits

2008-02-18T19:13:00.000-08:00

One of the sweet surprises after my first book came out was being invited to schools to talk with students. As an author, I have the honor of visiting tens of thousands of students and educators each year!

Being a speaker was not something I expected when I started writing, but I love to travel and meet new people. Young writers are often enthusiastic when they discover travel can be part of being a writer.

Here are photos from my two most recent visits and a few from three of my favorite visits from past years.

Recently, I returned from a week of visits in Elko, Nevada. Frost on windows greeted me each morning. Glistening snow covered the Ruby Mountains.

End of the road. Kim was a wonderful tour guide, driving me to Lamoille, where aspen and cottonwood and beautiful country churches live.

At first I wasn't sure how I'd survive the food in Elko County. The first two restaurants I checked out had specialties of "Coke Chicken" and "Moose Drool"! :-) But the Nevada educators were fabulous hostesses and came to my rescure. One evening, they treated me to a yummy Chinese dinner, another to a Basque dinner at the famous Star Hotel Basque Family Style Restaurant. Gifts included a food basket upon arrival, a Wolf calendar compliments of one of the teacher's daughters who shares my love of wolves, a book full of cowboy poetry (Elko is famous for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering (http://www.westernfolklife.org), and a Sage Elementary Dust Devil pin. Who could ask for anything more?!!

When I entered Stoneridge Elementary, I was greeted by art at every turn! It's always a treat when students have read my books and expressed themselves through art, plays, and other activities.

Even the parents got involved! Parent Jon Haupert, whose daughter attends Stoneridge, went above and beyond with a theatre for Lily and a beautiful rendition of myself as a child in a pasture with dancing cows all around! I love it!

MEMORIES FROM THE PAST:

Phillipsburg, Kansas, 2004 - A Fabulous, Big-hearted Community!

Tasis Dorado, Puerto Rico, 2005 - A Joyful, Colorful School!

Branson, Missouri, 2006 - Art and Writing Activities Everywhere!

Cynthia Mazat, a talented and energetic library media specialist, and I take pics as Joshua Summerhayes (The Pumpkin Runner) and Lily (Prancing, Dancing Lily).

The Galapagos

2008-01-30T11:17:00.000-08:00

Was it a dream or was it the Galapagos? For forty years, I'd dreamed of visiting the Galapagos Islands, those faraway islands west of Ecuador. I finally made it last December, 2007. It was more than worth the wait!

I woke every morning encircled by pure nature. One morning, I looked out my cabin's window to see two sea lions, playing in the ocean outside our boat, the Integrity. Another morning I stepped out of the shower and saw a green sea turtle swimming alongside.

Charles Darwin sailed to the Galapagos on the HMS Beagle, in 1835. From his observations of plants and animals there, he developed his theory of evolution. The islands are volcanic; the flora and fauna evolved in isolation, so there are lots of strange and unique species.
Here are some photos of just a few.

Whoops! Those aren't strange and unique species...or are they?

That's Paul, our naturalist and guide, and myself sending postcards at Post Office Bay.

Post Office Bay was used in the 1800's by whalers to stay in touch with folks back home.
They left their letters in a wooden barrel; other sailors who were returning home took the letters with them to deliver.

There was no real postman; there still isn't.

My modern day shipmates and I left postcards too.

It can take months or years or forever for a letter to be delivered.

But my son got his postcard in Connecticut just one week after I left it at Post Office Bay!! Someone had picked it up at Post Office Bay and mailed it when they returned to their home in Connecticut.

The United States Postal Service can't do much better than that!

Sea lions! How I love sea lions!

We went snorkeling nearly every day.

Some of the sea lions thought we were new toys.

One afternoon, two sea lions twirled and swirled around us for nearly an hour.

Galapagos sea lions make very fun swimming buddies!

Marine iguanas come in different colors! They are the only lizards in the world that swim and get their food in the sea.

Boobies and frigates and cormorants. Oh my!

Boobies come in three colors in the Galapagos.
Blue-footed boobies.
They are as amazed as we are by their bright blue feet.

Red -footed boobies.
Red feet. Blue bill. Who could ask for anything more?

Nazca boobies.
Elegant in black and white.

The adult frigate birds
have a bright red throat patch,

but the juveniles are the cutest.

The flightless cormorant's eyes are a brilliant turquoise.

They have small wings and cannot fly. For hundreds of years
they've had no enemies on the islands, so there's been no need to fly.

Their necks are long, curved, and elegant, but when they jump
in the water, they remind me of a bellyflop, but with feet.

Splashing color
on the gray rocky slopes

is the Sally Lightfoot Crab.

Sally was the first animal
I saw when I reached the Galapagos.

And last, but definitely not least,

the animal the islands were named for -
the giant Galapagos tortoise.
Galapagos is a Spanish word for "saddle".
One kind of tortoise has a shell that looks
like a saddle. Thus the name "Galapagos".
The tortoise above is dome-shaped, not saddleback.

Ah! The Galapagos! Some things are worth waiting for.

2008-01-13T22:19:00.000-08:00

"Roar of a Snore" on "Just One More Book!!"
"Just One More Book" is a fun website with a thrice-weekly podcast that promotes literacy and, in their words, great children's books. I was thrilled they chose my book "Roar of a Snore" for their January 11th, 2008 podcast. If you'd like to hear their lively chat, which takes place in their favorite coffee shop, double click the play button (">" ) on the "Listen Now" icon at:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2008/01/11/a-rhyming-bedtime-romp-roar-of-a-snore/

China!

2007-11-17T22:09:00.000-08:00

China! What an amazing country. We crossed the International Dateline and arrived in Beijing, the capital of China. We visited Tian'anmen Square, the largest city square in the world, a square where many political and emotional events have happened. From there we walked to the Forbidden City. My favorite part of Beijing was the Great Wall. I was determined to walk to the top. I made it!

From Beijing, we flew to Xi'an, my favorite of the cities we visited. It retains it's old city wall and it's where you find the famous terra cotta Warriors. There are over 8,000 life-size figures of warriors and horses, made to protect what would be the tomb of the Emperor of Qin. They are amazingly beautiful. When I first say them, they took my breath away. Some say the terra cotta warriors are the most exciting archeological find of the 20th century.

Then onto Shanghai, a city with a frenzy to it. We walked the Bund, a waterfront park. Across the famous Shanghai harbor we viewed buildings of all shapes and sizes. The most interesting skyline I've ever seen.

Maui

2007-09-24T23:14:00.000-07:00

Maui! In September I traveled with a friend to Maui. Many people go to Hawaii to relax, but we wanted to challenge ourselves. We trekked eight miles across lava fields with a Sierra Club group. We swam with sea turtles off Lanai. We drove to the top of Haleakala to experience the beautiful sunsets. I even came home with an idea for a story.

Dogs love the beach too!

2007-09-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

***Story Magician Tip ***

Pay attention to the small. The small isn't really small at all.

Many books I see today feel like "sound bites". They skim over the surface, moving quickly, frantically trying to keep the reader's attention. They do not explore the depths. They do not see the beauty of the quiet and the simple.

When I visited Maui in September, I did lots of snorkeling. Believe me. There's a lot beneath the surface. Grace. Wonder. Wisdom. Vision. Surprises.

If you are stuck in the mud in the middle of your story, it's better to take a walk beneath the trees than to read a chapter in another "How to write" book. Stop. Breathe deep. Appreciate. Listen to your surroundings and then the voice inside you. Now go explore the depths of yourself and your story...and write!

Writing Conferences

2007-09-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

I've never been one for attending lots of writing conferences. I always felt my time was better spent staying home and actually writing! But recently friends convinced me there are good reasons to make conferences part of my writing life. One reason is all the new writing friends you make. Another is getting insight into your writing process. You may only come home with one true "gem" per conference, but if that "gem" helps you improve and finish your story, the conference is worth your time and money. If you come home with one true friend, the conference is a gift!

Here are photos taken at the fabulous conferences I attended this summer. Sometimes I'm on the faculty, sometimes I'm a student, but always, I'm learning.

I've been delighted to be on the faculty of David Greenberg's fabulous Oregon Coast Children's Writers Workshop (www.authorsillustrators.com)in 2006 and 2007. I took lots of pictures to share with the faculty in 2006. They bring back wonderful memories, so I'll share them along with 2007's. The 2007 photos are compliments of author Mel Boring, who everyone knows, is definitely NOT boring!

Faculty meeting at Oceanside - 2006

Director David Greenberg, practicing flying!

Everyone loves writing!

Mel Boring, who's definitely NOT boring and his 2007 photos:

Happy faces of OCCWW

Studying the story: myself, Nancy Coffelt, & Agent Susan Cohen

In August I switched hats from faculty member to student and attended The Pacific Coast Children's Writers Workshop (www.childrenswritersworkshop.com). It's an intimate, insightful workshop of 35 serious and dedicated writers and topnotch faculty. We focused on the craft of writing; this year the focus was subplots and secondary characters.

Agent Andrea Cascardi and Editor Julie Romeis discuss Joni Sensel's wonderful manuscript.

Awesome Author Barbara Shoup guiding us down the writing path.

There's lots of work at PCCWW, but also time for food and fun on the patio.

Andrea Cascardi, Barbara Shoup, moi, Director Nancy Sondel, Julie Romeis

You're a Story Magician!

2007-08-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Young Writers' of Sonoma County!
I loved being part of the Celebration of the Young Writer at Bernard Eldredge, May 16th, 2007!
You are all amazing Story Magicians!

A big thank you also to Library Magician, Marie Hinton, and all the members of Gateway Reading Council for inviting me to be part of this wonderful celebration. Thanks also for the anthology, filled with the young writers' work. I was awed, astonished, and "blown away".

They say a book should have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Sometimes, I think the beginning is the scariest part.
I've had this blog since May, but I haven't written a word.
How should I begin? What should I say? And how do I post a picture in my blog? I am so non-techie. :-(
But I promised the fabulous young writers of Sonoma County that the first thing on my blog would be congratulations to them. It's later than promised, but as my bio says, I'm a wanderer. But I'm not lost!
Seems I often begin writing through inspiration or prodding by someone I care about, whether my children, my husband, young writers, or my book characters.

So here's the cheer you helped me shout out last May. You inspired me to write this cheer, to name my blog, and finally, to begin it. Here's to Beginnings. Keep writing those stories. You are each a story magician.

I’M A STORY MAGICIAN
I PLAY WITH THE WORDS
I ARRANGE THEM IN STORIES
SO THEY CAN BE HEARD

I’M A STORY MAGICIAN
I IMAGINE NEW WORLDS
I BRING THEM TO LIFE
LIKE SHIMMERING PEARLS

I’M A STORY MAGICIAN
I’M AWAKE! I’M AWARE!
I SIT WITH MY NOTEBOOK
WRITING STORIES TO SHARE