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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
New Year Resolution and Information
I have posted some information about the new ball being dropped at Times Square in addition to my resolutions for 2010. I have also commented about my 2010 campaign to bring back a fashion trend from my youth. Watch and enjoy!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Book Review: Border Crossing by Jessica Lee Anderson
Title: Border Crossing
Author: Jessica Anderson
Pages: 174
Ages/Grades: 12 up/ 7 up
Published: October 2009
Acquired: book provided to me by Blue Slip Media
link to author website and book discussion guide
I liked this novel. I was intrigued by the storyline. I just had to know how things would turn out in the end. This is what makes a great story when you care enough for the characters to find their fate. Browsing the internet there really is not much out there on this book. This bothered me because this is a book that I think many young adults would really like. The book really captures the rough life of teens and the fact that life is not perfect for everyone.
Manz becomes more and more paranoid and begins to think everyone is out to get him or kill him. He meets Vanessa at his summer job, but has a hard time accepting her friendship. The voices in his head tell him that Operation Wetback from the 50’s is up and running and that Border Patrol is coming after him. Will Manz to figure out what is real and what is not before things get too out of control? Read the book and find out.
I plan on finding the first book by this author to read as I really liked her style. The story was simple, but yet powerful at the same time. This is perfect for so many students that I talk with about books because many do not want 10 different plotlines going on at one time. The author really crafted a story that created this very simple, plain atmosphere in my mind which is what I felt the backdrop of the story should be. Manz does not have much and being in Texas the landscape is not always full of colors and smell. I sensed this drab world where it is constantly hot.
Find this book and give it a read. I am very grateful that I was sent a copy because had this not happened I would never have come across this book. Now I am off to find the first book by this author and give her some more praise.
I will be holding a contest to give this book away beginning on January 10th.
Check out the link below for a trailer on the book.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Your questions have been answered!
I spent some time answering your questions. I answered them right off the top of my head and here are the results. Enjoy!
Cheez-It Link
http://www.cheez-it.com/favorite-finder.shtml
Cheez-It Link
http://www.cheez-it.com/favorite-finder.shtml
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Nerd Factory: 12/27/09
The very cool Peanut music videos
The best 4 minutes on YouTube: Macho Man Randy Savage Interviews
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Teacher Mystery Challenge #9
YOU HAVE BEEN STUMPED!!
Your record now stands at 6-2
The teacher last week was indeed Mrs. Melchert and NOT Mrs. Gilmore.
Here is the next batch of answers. Good luck. The choices are slowly getting slimmer to make it easier for you.
Your record now stands at 6-2
The teacher last week was indeed Mrs. Melchert and NOT Mrs. Gilmore.
Here is the next batch of answers. Good luck. The choices are slowly getting slimmer to make it easier for you.
- What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? KoolAid—Yuck; I was a cocacola from the bottle kid
- What do you think of hot dogs? Gross
- Favorite
- What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee—flavored with hazelnut
- Can you do push ups? If yes, how many? NO!
- Favorite hobby?
- Middle name? Michele
- Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? Why does my daughter always complain about something? Will the laundry ever get finished? Will the Bengals ever win another SuperBowl?
- Current worry? How will I get everything done for conferences?
- Dum da dum dummmm what is that? Trouble!
- Where would you like to go? Europe and
- Do you own slippers? Yes! I live with COLD hard wood and tile floors.
- What color shirt are you wearing right now? Red
- Can you whistle? Yes
- Favorite color? Blue
- Would you be a pirate? No
- What was the last song that was stuck in your head? 1985 by Bowling for Soup
- What’s in your pocket right now? NO pockets
- Best toy as a child? Teddy Bear and ColecoVision
- What is your favorite candy? SKITTLES
- Favorite Sports Team? Bengals
- What are you currently reading? Kite Runner
- What is your favorite book of all time?
- If you could meet anyone living or dead who would it be and why? Jon Bon Jovi—always had a crush on him and he plays a mean “Livin’ on a Prayer”.
- What would we find in your refrigerator right now?
- What is one fact that students would not know about you prior to asking this question? I won the Biggest Bubble Gum Blowing completion in 6th grade.
- If you were an animal/a can of soup/some other random object, which one would you be? A Microphone
- Any other questions that would be worth posting to make the interview more interesting just list below along with your answer.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Nerd Factory: Christmas Edition
Here is the link to the snow sculptures
For a more entertaining look at 12 Days of Christmas Price Index
Here is my holiday commercial pick. Yes, it is beyond super cheesy or all cheesy commercials.
Email me the video link so I can submit your favorite holiday commercials.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Coffee for the Brain Post Break
Christmas video will be posted on Sunday
There will be a post on Monday and Tuesday, but then I am out of town will not have access to my computer until the 27th.
There will be a 5 day off period. I just wanted to let everyone know that I will begin to post again on the 27th.
Have a great Christmas and I will do the same.
Thanks again for all the support. I appreciate all of you who view the blog and post comments. Santa will be nice to you this year.
There will be a post on Monday and Tuesday, but then I am out of town will not have access to my computer until the 27th.
There will be a 5 day off period. I just wanted to let everyone know that I will begin to post again on the 27th.
Have a great Christmas and I will do the same.
Thanks again for all the support. I appreciate all of you who view the blog and post comments. Santa will be nice to you this year.
Two things to get you ready for the weekend
Pure Genius - Jimmy Fallon is the man. I cannot get over how much he sounds like Neil Young. Could one argue that this theme song could be the best theme song of any TV show?
I am also thankful for this classic Muppet segment where they perform Bohemian Rhapsody.
I am also thankful for this classic Muppet segment where they perform Bohemian Rhapsody.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Book Review: Six Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak
Six Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak by Famous and Obscure
Yes, I know, I know, I need to lay off of these books and review something else. But, I cannot help myself. I have an obsession with these little phrases. This book does not let down. As with all the other books, this is very open and honest. It amazes me every time that I read six words and so much emotion, ideas, and thoughts are expressed. Six words actually speak volumes. This one hits us all on something that we can relate to which is love and heartbreak. I am going to follow the same format as I did with the previous book and mention a few of my favorites. There were a few others that I wanted to share for simple shock value, but I decided to keep those to the readers who read. Here are some of my favs in no particular order.
By the way, check this book out and read. Another thought provoking book that will make you think about others and you realize that you have similar situations with other people. You can always find someone to relate to.
I never said "I Love You"
No, you can't have the toaster.
My mother warned me about you.
He always stirs my chocolate milk.
She got Hodgkins's Lymphoma. I bailed.
Went for milk. Never came back.
I put the seat down now.
Somehow I even love his snoring.
She said she was a he.
His e-mail password was the same.
Actually the couch is quite comfortable.
As always, feel free to share your own or others that you have heard. Check out this book and all the others as well as the website, SMITH magazine - www.SMITHmag.net
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
My Six Word Memoir of the Week
I have decided to add a new series to the blog where once a week I will share a six word idea on how I am feeling at that particular moment of the week. Feel free to chime and share your six word feeling in the comments as I post my ideas. Until next time, check out my favorite memoirs from the books that I have reviewed, check out the SMITH website, and share your own memoirs. Choose your words carefully.
6 Word Memoir of the Week
Why is alfalfa fun to say?
Why is alfalfa fun to say?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Author Interview: Justine Larbalestier
Here is my latest interview with YA author Justine Larbelestier. She is the author of the amazing and thought provoking book LIAR. Here is a link to her website.You can read my review here. She is also married to Scott Westerfeld hence the references to Scott in the interview. I proudly present to you, the interview questions.
1. Growing up, when I was reading books I never really even considered authors to be human. I never gave a thought to actually talking to them or sending them letters. Now authors do interviews (like this), Skype conferences, blogs, email, etc. How does the utilization of all the latest technology and internet help you as a writer? Do you think it helps you or is it more of problem trying to fit it all in?
I love it. (Well, not Skype.) It's very isolating being a writer. Pre-internet it was even worse. Now we have the luxury of as little or as much contact with our readers as we like. I really enjoy blogging and responding to my readers' questions. Sure, it's tough to get it all done and sometimes I lag months behind on responding to mail but it's so worth it.
2. LIAR is the first book that I have read by you and I loved it. Without giving anything away(I am holding true to your request) how did you come up with the idea of a narrator who lies? I don't think I have ever been lied to as a reader.
Have you ever read Great Expectations or Catcher in the Rye? Then you've been lied to. Unreliable narrators are much more common than many readers think. Basically anything from a first person point of view is going to give you a limited view of the world. There will, at the very least, be omissions and a slanted version of events. More is happening than one person can see.
The out and out unreliable narrators are usually trying to trick you, which is a little bit different. Usually, they also try to hide that they're unreliable, but Micah flat out says from the very beginning that she's a liar. That way the reader is on their toes from the very beginning.
3. This novel leaves the reader with a lot to think about at the end. As a reader, do you prefer books with a closed ending or ones that just keep you guessing on what exactly happened and/or will happen?
It really depends on the book. Some books need closure some don't. I prefer a good book with the right ending.
4. How were you able to understand what Micah was going through? How were you able to get inside the head of a compulsive liar where everything was so believable?
I think pretty much all novelists have a very good understanding of being a liar.
1. Growing up, when I was reading books I never really even considered authors to be human. I never gave a thought to actually talking to them or sending them letters. Now authors do interviews (like this), Skype conferences, blogs, email, etc. How does the utilization of all the latest technology and internet help you as a writer? Do you think it helps you or is it more of problem trying to fit it all in?
I love it. (Well, not Skype.) It's very isolating being a writer. Pre-internet it was even worse. Now we have the luxury of as little or as much contact with our readers as we like. I really enjoy blogging and responding to my readers' questions. Sure, it's tough to get it all done and sometimes I lag months behind on responding to mail but it's so worth it.
2. LIAR is the first book that I have read by you and I loved it. Without giving anything away(I am holding true to your request) how did you come up with the idea of a narrator who lies? I don't think I have ever been lied to as a reader.
Have you ever read Great Expectations or Catcher in the Rye? Then you've been lied to. Unreliable narrators are much more common than many readers think. Basically anything from a first person point of view is going to give you a limited view of the world. There will, at the very least, be omissions and a slanted version of events. More is happening than one person can see.
The out and out unreliable narrators are usually trying to trick you, which is a little bit different. Usually, they also try to hide that they're unreliable, but Micah flat out says from the very beginning that she's a liar. That way the reader is on their toes from the very beginning.
3. This novel leaves the reader with a lot to think about at the end. As a reader, do you prefer books with a closed ending or ones that just keep you guessing on what exactly happened and/or will happen?
It really depends on the book. Some books need closure some don't. I prefer a good book with the right ending.
4. How were you able to understand what Micah was going through? How were you able to get inside the head of a compulsive liar where everything was so believable?
I think pretty much all novelists have a very good understanding of being a liar.
5. You have been out and about on your recent book tour. Can you share a story from your travels that shows that doing what you do is worthwhile?
It's hard to pick just one. I was amazed by so many of the schools I visited. So many wonderful and enthusiastic readers and writers. School librarians are just amazing.
It's hard to pick just one. I was amazed by so many of the schools I visited. So many wonderful and enthusiastic readers and writers. School librarians are just amazing.
6. What surprised you most as you were writing this novel?
That I finished it!
7. I was reading about how you and Scott are competitive in many things like shooting spit wads and such. What was the last thing you guys competed about? Who won?
Thumb wrestling. I always win. Scott might not back me up on that though. But he's a liar. (You know, like all novelists are.)
8. I recently read a book title, Six Word Memoirs, which has a website. If you had to write your memoir in six words, what would you write?
Sum my life up? Rather sleep.
11. What other books would you recommend young adults to read besides your own?
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith. Was my favourite book of the year. A tale of a black girl passing as white so she can fly planes during world war II. I could not put it down.
12. Coming up in a few weeks I am starting the great nerd debate for my students on my blog - Would you rather be a pirate or ninja? What would you choose?
Ninja.
Here are some additional random questions that you could answer if you feels like it(though not really necessary, but students wanted me to add). These come from the Teacher Mystery Challenge that I have on my blog. They thought it would be cool to hear answers from an author.
1. What flavor of Kool Aid is your favorite?
I don't like soft drinks.
2. What do you think of hot dogs?
I don't think about hot dogs. Sorry. I'm a foreignor.
3. Favorite Holiday movie or tv special?
Don't have one. They're not really a thing in Australia.
4. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Water.
That I finished it!
7. I was reading about how you and Scott are competitive in many things like shooting spit wads and such. What was the last thing you guys competed about? Who won?
Thumb wrestling. I always win. Scott might not back me up on that though. But he's a liar. (You know, like all novelists are.)
8. I recently read a book title, Six Word Memoirs, which has a website. If you had to write your memoir in six words, what would you write?
Sum my life up? Rather sleep.
11. What other books would you recommend young adults to read besides your own?
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith. Was my favourite book of the year. A tale of a black girl passing as white so she can fly planes during world war II. I could not put it down.
12. Coming up in a few weeks I am starting the great nerd debate for my students on my blog - Would you rather be a pirate or ninja? What would you choose?
Ninja.
Here are some additional random questions that you could answer if you feels like it(though not really necessary, but students wanted me to add). These come from the Teacher Mystery Challenge that I have on my blog. They thought it would be cool to hear answers from an author.
1. What flavor of Kool Aid is your favorite?
I don't like soft drinks.
2. What do you think of hot dogs?
I don't think about hot dogs. Sorry. I'm a foreignor.
3. Favorite Holiday movie or tv special?
Don't have one. They're not really a thing in Australia.
4. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Water.
5. Can you do push ups? If yes, how many?
Yes. 10. And they're proper pushups, no putting knees on ground. I'm working my way up to 50. Slowly.
6. Favorite hobby?
Writing.
7. Middle name?
Don't have one.
8. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
Hungry. Need to pee. Hope there's a ninja movie to watch. (These are my standard thoughts. Though usually I'm also thinking about going back to bed.)
9. Current worry?
Should I go pee or finish these questions?
12. Do you own slippers?
Yes. Well, I own uggies. They're only worn indoors in Australia. Wearing them outside should be made illegal.
13. What color shirt are you wearing right now?
I'm in my pjs so I'm not wearing a top. But the pjs are blue. When you become a full-time writer you're always in your pjs.
14. Can you whistle?
No.
16. Would you be a pirate?
No. Not a great life for a woman. Also I don't like boats.
17. What was the last song that was stuck in your head?
99 Problems
18. What’s in your pocket right now?
Nothing.
19. Best toy as a child?
Evil Kenivel doll with motor cycle.
Yes. 10. And they're proper pushups, no putting knees on ground. I'm working my way up to 50. Slowly.
6. Favorite hobby?
Writing.
7. Middle name?
Don't have one.
8. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
Hungry. Need to pee. Hope there's a ninja movie to watch. (These are my standard thoughts. Though usually I'm also thinking about going back to bed.)
9. Current worry?
Should I go pee or finish these questions?
12. Do you own slippers?
Yes. Well, I own uggies. They're only worn indoors in Australia. Wearing them outside should be made illegal.
13. What color shirt are you wearing right now?
I'm in my pjs so I'm not wearing a top. But the pjs are blue. When you become a full-time writer you're always in your pjs.
14. Can you whistle?
No.
16. Would you be a pirate?
No. Not a great life for a woman. Also I don't like boats.
17. What was the last song that was stuck in your head?
99 Problems
18. What’s in your pocket right now?
Nothing.
19. Best toy as a child?
Evil Kenivel doll with motor cycle.
21. Favorite Sports Team?
NY Liberty
22. What are you currently reading?
Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld. (The sequel to Leviathan. That's right I get to read it before you do! *cue evil laughter*)
NY Liberty
22. What are you currently reading?
Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld. (The sequel to Leviathan. That's right I get to read it before you do! *cue evil laughter*)
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday Morning Reminders
Here is a checklist of things that I suggest you do(actually I order you to do them). If you don't do these things, then I will do this to your car(students I will do this to your locker) **cue the evil laughter here**
1. Watch Nerd Factory Episode 10
2. Watch Random Thoughts part 2
3. Make me a snowman
4. Vote for holiday song
5. Vote for TM #8
6. Hit the Penguin Challenge
7. Enter for the free book
8. Sign up for the online book discussion
9. Submit me questions to answer for my upcoming video where I come up with answers to the questions
10. Read the book review and author interview posted this weekend on Jacquelyn Wheeler and her novel Rising Shadow(yes, the book I am giving away!)
1. Watch Nerd Factory Episode 10
2. Watch Random Thoughts part 2
3. Make me a snowman
4. Vote for holiday song
5. Vote for TM #8
6. Hit the Penguin Challenge
7. Enter for the free book
8. Sign up for the online book discussion
9. Submit me questions to answer for my upcoming video where I come up with answers to the questions
10. Read the book review and author interview posted this weekend on Jacquelyn Wheeler and her novel Rising Shadow(yes, the book I am giving away!)
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Nerd Factory Episode 10
Here is the rundown of the latest episode
1. Answer to TMC #7
2. Results of Holiday song poll
3. Snowman Challenge
4. Hit the Penguin Challenge
5. Book Give Away
6. Online Book Club
7. The difference between the Nerd Factory videos and the Random Thoughts videos
1. Answer to TMC #7
2. Results of Holiday song poll
3. Snowman Challenge
4. Hit the Penguin Challenge
5. Book Give Away
6. Online Book Club
7. The difference between the Nerd Factory videos and the Random Thoughts videos
Hit The Penguin
Here is the link to Hit the Penguin
1. Hit the Penguin
2. When you think you have the high score, then push the Print Screen button on your keyboard
***** There will be two categories for high scores*****
*******High score for the longest distance when the penguin bounces*******
*******High score for the longest distance when the penguin does a head dive*******
3. Paste by hitting CTL + V to Word or Paint
4. Save image
5. Submit screen image to me with name so I can post it on this post.
Good luck
Here are the current top 3 scores for when the penguin bounces
1. Hit the Penguin
2. When you think you have the high score, then push the Print Screen button on your keyboard
***** There will be two categories for high scores*****
*******High score for the longest distance when the penguin bounces*******
*******High score for the longest distance when the penguin does a head dive*******
3. Paste by hitting CTL + V to Word or Paint
4. Save image
5. Submit screen image to me with name so I can post it on this post.
Good luck
Here are the current top 3 scores for when the penguin bounces
Book Review: Rising Shadow Jacquelyn Wheeler
Title: Rising ShadowAuthor: Jacquelyn Wheeler
Pages: 375 pages
Book acquired from the author
**This book is available as a free download on her website(see my contest for the book giveaway)
Let me start off by saying that this is the first book in a five book series. I really think you have to know this when you begin to read this book. The reason being is that if you read the book trying analyze and predict what will happen with the characters, then this book will really grab your interest.
I enjoyed this novel. I felt like I was reliving my childhood days of superheroes with the exception that these are college students who don't dress in costume or have corny catchphrases. But....these characters are learning about their abilities and powers and realizing that they are in a big battle of good vs. evil. The author has intertwined politics into the mix. I really felt like this was a modern twist of Superman or Batman just without the items mentioned above.
Here is a quick summary of the novel(copied from Amazon.com)
Ashlyn Woods just transferred to one of the most beautiful campuses on the west coast, where she can't wait to start her life over as a normal college student. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she discovers that she is a Soterian: a person who develops amazing powers when the balance of good and evil shifts too far in evil's favor. Soon she and the other Soterians are studying martial arts and learning to use their powers to prevent California from being plunged into chaos. But they quickly discover that they're up against a much more dangerous enemy than they anticipated. And when Ashlyn meets Kai, a devastatingly gorgeous guitar player, she realizes she must sacrifice more than she ever imagined.
This book contains everything to grab the interest of the YA world. Their are crushes, romance, supernatural powers(what I would not give to be an Alchemist), battles, good vs. evil concept, and of course the college life.
This book was a nice breath of fresh air as it dealt with supernatural powers, but did not use zombies, vampires, or any of other supernatural characters that have been flooded into our reading world.
As stated before, if you read this first book knowing there are four more books, then you realize that much is left unstated. It causes you to really create some ideas of what will happen. Who will be the traitor? Who will be killed? What will cause the shift in the balances of good vs. evil to have the characters regain their powers? As with any first book in any series, the first book is setting up a lot of scenarios. I think the best is yet to come. Take Harry Potter for example, the first book was by far the least interesting(but still a great read), however, without it that novel everything else collapses. I predict the same for this series.
On a side note, this author is an amazing person. She donates 20% of profits to charity and even offers the book free on her website. I will also mention a plug that I am giving away a copy of this novel for free in a contest. The author was kind enough to provide me two copies to give away. One will go away in this contest and the other copy will also be given away in a contest or I may give it to my middle school library for students to check out.
Read this book as it will provide you a chance to read four more amazing books that are in the process. I am off to learn how to create fire from my emotions.........
Author Interview: Jacquelyn Wheeler
Jacquelyn has been super incredible to work as I have had the opportunity to do so through email over the last couple weeks. She set aside some time to answer some of my interview questions and thought it would only be perfect timing to post these in addition to the book give away contest of her first novel in the Soterian series, Rising Shadow. I proudly present the interview.
Growing up, when I was reading books I never really even considered authors to be human. I never gave a thought to actually talking to them or sending them letters. Now authors do interviews (like this), Skype conferences, blogs, email, etc. How does the utilization of all the latest technology and internet help you as a writer? Do you think it helps you or is it more of problem trying to fit it all in?
It’s been incredibly helpful.. I was dreading going out there and promoting my book, but it’s turned out to be almost as much fun as writing, because I’ve gotten to hook up with cool bloggers like you and meet some pretty amazing people all over the world. I have a day job and don’t have time to get on the road and do a book tour, and if I did, I still wouldn’t meet as many people as I am via email and Good Reads and stuff like that.
Rising Shadows is the first book that I have read by you and I really enjoyed the novel. Without giving anything away how did you come up with the idea for your story line. You have 5 books that you plan to write in the series. What caused you to think up the ideas for the series?
It was kind of like the idea dropped out of the sky, although looking back, it was a perfect convergence of several areas of my life. I had been playing the online game City of Heroes a lot, as well as doing martial arts in the real world, and I was thinking about how much I love the sensation of flying--I dream about flying all the time, and my ‘toons in City of Heroes always have flight as their travel power. I had also been thinking a lot about genetics, as I’m a co-inventor on a patent for displaying and managing your genetic profile. So suddenly, on September first of 2008, the idea just kind of hit me—what if people could develop special powers as a result of a genetic switch that was thrown by an environmental trigger, specifically an imbalance of good and evil? And what if evil couldn’t be destroyed, only brought back into balance? I sat there for about an hour as the ideas just flooded through me and the basic ideas for all five books came to me, and later that day I went home and started outlining the series.
This novel leaves the reader with a lot to think about at the end in terms of what is going to happen next. Do you have each book already planned out or do you just know key elements along the way?
I’ve got each book planned out at a fairly high level. I know what the major crisis is in each book, and how the series ends, and every now and then I’ll get an idea for a scene in a later book and write it down. So I’ve already started writing all of them, which is a really fun approach, because it means I can weave clues and ideas into the early books that don’t make sense until later.
You are involved in a lot of activities with martial arts and triathalons. On average, how much time do you spend each week writing?
I probably average an hour of writing a day. I write on the train going to and from work, which gives me about forty minutes a day during the week, and I often write in the evenings after my daughter has gone to bed. I try to do things in small chunks of time rather than wait for a free hour to present itself, which never happens, although the weekends provide me with a lot more time. I also tend to focus on one sport at a time, so right now I’m just working toward my black belt in martial arts and am taking a break from triathlons.
What surprised you most as you were writing this novel?
The most surprising thing was how much I loved what I was writing, and how it just seemed to write itself at times. I’d be typing away, and an idea would hit me, and I’d be kind of sitting back and watching it unfold as if I were reading it, not writing it. It’s so much fun when that happens!
You donate a percentage of the money you make to charities. How did you become involved with these organizations and/or why did you decided to do this?
I believe very strongly in volunteering your time and money wherever possible, and it occurred to me that I would be even more inspired to write if it meant I could give more to charity. Not the token 1% or 5% that most organizations donate, but 20%. Selecting charities was hard at first. I got the idea that there are really five main categories of human need: water, food, health care, safe shelter, and education. I wanted to select charities within each of these categories, and I wanted to make sure they were international in scope, used their donations wisely, and provided opportunities for volunteering your time as well as money. Thankfully, I found Charity Navigator (http://www.charitynavigator.org/), which ranks and categorizes charities. That made it really easy to find charities that met my criteria.
I recently read a book title, Six Word Memoirs, which has a website. If you had to write your memoir in six words, what would you write?
I have so many different interests, and I tend to get very enthusiastic about things. My family compares me to Mr. Toad in The Wind in the Willows, and they all cringe every time I say “I’ve had an idea!” I love to learn new things and embrace new experiences. So I suppose my memoir would be “I seized life with both hands.”
Do you listen to music when write? If so, what would be a playlist on your ipod?
It’s kind of backwards—I’ll be writing a scene, and a song will come to mind that matches it, and then that song plays in my head as I’m writing it. For example, in the scene where Ashlyn is driving to Santa Barbara, leaving her old life behind her, the ColdPlay song “Viva la Vida” started playing in my head, so I actually wrote that into the scene. In a later scene when her life seems to be hitting bottom, the Mazzy Star song “Into Dust” started playing in my head, so I put that on and played it over and over while I worked on that scene until my family was yelling at me to turn it off.. I seem to have an inner theme song for just about everything. When I’m doing triathlons, my brain plays the Mermen’s “Silly Elephant Who Stomped to Tea” during the swim, Finger Eleven’s “One Thing” during the bike leg, and Juno Reactor’s “Pistolero” during the run. Lately when I’m really stressed out at work, “Defying Gravity” from Wicked helps me through it.
What other books would you recommend young adults to read besides your own?
There are so many fantastic books out there! I’m crazy about the Harry Potter series, and I really like Pretties/Uglies/Specials (didn’t like Extras that much). I love the Artemis Fowl books. Right now I’m reading Snow Crash for the first time and I’m loving it. The best advice I can give is to follow blogs like Coffee for the Brain to hear about what’s out there, and then use a site like Good Reads to share ideas with friends.
Do you know when book 2 will be published?
The second book, Merger, is nearly done. I’m in final edits on it right now, so it just depends on when I feel that it’s ready. Should be about another month. Book three, Fracture, is about 75% written, but I spend a lot of time editing (it took me nine weeks to write the first draft of Rising Shadow and nine months to edit it), so I think Fracture is probably about nine months away.
What type of Soterian would you be?
Definitely a Scout, with strong Empath tendencies. I think I’d be an Alchemist for sure.
Here are some additional random questions that you could answer if you feel like it(though not really necessary, but students wanted me to add). These come from the Teacher Mystery Challenge that I have on my blog. They thought it would be cool to hear answers from an author.
1. What flavor of Kool Aid is your favorite?
I can’t remember the last time I had Kool Aid, but I always loved the red one.
2. What do you think of hot dogs?
I’m a vegetarian, and I love veggie dogs (there’s nothing gross in them like regular hot dogs) with a lot of mustard.
3. Favorite Holiday movie or tv special?
Gotta be Rudolph. As a kid, I remember laughing for hours after hearing Yukon Cornelius say “Bumbles bounce!”
4. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
We’re sort of coffee snobs in my house, so mornings consist of Blue Bottle coffee brewed through a glass siphon pot topped off with Wildwood soy creamer. My husband is taking a break from caffeine, so we drink the Blue Bottle decaf, which is fantastic. If I get coffee with my co-workers in the afternoon, it’s a soy gingerbread latte from Peet’s or a chai.
5. Can you do push ups? If yes, how many?
I can only do about ten full push ups at a time. Pathetic. I’m working on it.
6. Favorite hobby?
I have a gazillion hobbies, but I would have to say that writing is my favorite.
7. Middle name?
Christine
8. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
Is this swine flu or just a regular virus?
Will I ever stop getting zits?
Why are all my thoughts questions?
9. Current worry?
Whether this virus is actually swine flu.
10. Dum da dum dummmm what is that?
Tums! Do they still have that ad on TV? I hardly ever watch TV anymore.
11. Where would you like to go?
Scotland. I've had this thing about Scotland for like the last fifteen years. Not sure why, since I’ve never been there.
12. Do you own slippers?
Probably, but I never wear them.
13. What color shirt are you wearing right now?
Blue (I’m still in my pajamas)
14. Can you whistle?
Yes, and I can whistle very loudly through my fingers, which is quite useful at concerts.
15. Favorite color?
Black. No, purple. No, black! It used to be green.
16. Would you be a pirate?
I would be a ninja who can talk like a pirate and sail a ship. Think of the advantage the ninja skills would bring when you're climbing the rigging.
17. What was the last song that was stuck in your head?
The Tums theme (thanks for putting it there). Before that it was “Defying Gravity.”
18. What’s in your pocket right now?
Kleenex
19. Best toy as a child?
I loved my basketball and my tire swing. And I loved board games like Monopoly, Clue, and Life. We also had a pinball machine, which rocked.
20. What is your favorite candy?
In the non-chocolate category, it’s watermelon Jolly Ranchers. Otherwise, just about anything made of dark chocolate.
21. Favorite Sports Team?
The San Francisco 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings.
22. What are you currently reading?
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. It’s awesome.
23. What is your favorite book of all time?
I don’t think I could ever get it down to just one favorite. If I had to list the ones I’ve re-read the most, I’d say Pride and Prejudice, Neuromancer, Summon the Keeper, and The Goblet of Fire.
24. If you could meet anyone living or dead who would it be and why?
Gandhi. It is absolutely amazing what he was able to accomplish through non-violence.
25. What would we find in your refrigerator right now?
A lot of condiments. Hopefully some kale. I really like kale. My husband does all the cooking, so I really don’t know what’s in there.
26. What is one fact that readers would not know about you prior to asking this question?
I used to be terrified of a lot of stuff—bees, the dark, open water, sharks, heights, etc. And then one day, in my early twenties, I decided I was sick of being afraid and started facing my fears one by one.. I walked through the house with all the lights off until I finally got over it. I hung out next to a flowering bush covered with bees and focused on noticing how cool the bees actually were until they didn't freak me out anymore. I went skydiving to get over my fear of heights. Training for triathlons got me over the open-water problem. I still haven’t swum with sharks, but it’s on my list. Then again, there's not much reason to get over one's fear of sharks--that would fall into the "healthy fear" category.
Growing up, when I was reading books I never really even considered authors to be human. I never gave a thought to actually talking to them or sending them letters. Now authors do interviews (like this), Skype conferences, blogs, email, etc. How does the utilization of all the latest technology and internet help you as a writer? Do you think it helps you or is it more of problem trying to fit it all in?
It’s been incredibly helpful.. I was dreading going out there and promoting my book, but it’s turned out to be almost as much fun as writing, because I’ve gotten to hook up with cool bloggers like you and meet some pretty amazing people all over the world. I have a day job and don’t have time to get on the road and do a book tour, and if I did, I still wouldn’t meet as many people as I am via email and Good Reads and stuff like that.
Rising Shadows is the first book that I have read by you and I really enjoyed the novel. Without giving anything away how did you come up with the idea for your story line. You have 5 books that you plan to write in the series. What caused you to think up the ideas for the series?
It was kind of like the idea dropped out of the sky, although looking back, it was a perfect convergence of several areas of my life. I had been playing the online game City of Heroes a lot, as well as doing martial arts in the real world, and I was thinking about how much I love the sensation of flying--I dream about flying all the time, and my ‘toons in City of Heroes always have flight as their travel power. I had also been thinking a lot about genetics, as I’m a co-inventor on a patent for displaying and managing your genetic profile. So suddenly, on September first of 2008, the idea just kind of hit me—what if people could develop special powers as a result of a genetic switch that was thrown by an environmental trigger, specifically an imbalance of good and evil? And what if evil couldn’t be destroyed, only brought back into balance? I sat there for about an hour as the ideas just flooded through me and the basic ideas for all five books came to me, and later that day I went home and started outlining the series.
This novel leaves the reader with a lot to think about at the end in terms of what is going to happen next. Do you have each book already planned out or do you just know key elements along the way?
I’ve got each book planned out at a fairly high level. I know what the major crisis is in each book, and how the series ends, and every now and then I’ll get an idea for a scene in a later book and write it down. So I’ve already started writing all of them, which is a really fun approach, because it means I can weave clues and ideas into the early books that don’t make sense until later.
You are involved in a lot of activities with martial arts and triathalons. On average, how much time do you spend each week writing?
I probably average an hour of writing a day. I write on the train going to and from work, which gives me about forty minutes a day during the week, and I often write in the evenings after my daughter has gone to bed. I try to do things in small chunks of time rather than wait for a free hour to present itself, which never happens, although the weekends provide me with a lot more time. I also tend to focus on one sport at a time, so right now I’m just working toward my black belt in martial arts and am taking a break from triathlons.
What surprised you most as you were writing this novel?
The most surprising thing was how much I loved what I was writing, and how it just seemed to write itself at times. I’d be typing away, and an idea would hit me, and I’d be kind of sitting back and watching it unfold as if I were reading it, not writing it. It’s so much fun when that happens!
You donate a percentage of the money you make to charities. How did you become involved with these organizations and/or why did you decided to do this?
I believe very strongly in volunteering your time and money wherever possible, and it occurred to me that I would be even more inspired to write if it meant I could give more to charity. Not the token 1% or 5% that most organizations donate, but 20%. Selecting charities was hard at first. I got the idea that there are really five main categories of human need: water, food, health care, safe shelter, and education. I wanted to select charities within each of these categories, and I wanted to make sure they were international in scope, used their donations wisely, and provided opportunities for volunteering your time as well as money. Thankfully, I found Charity Navigator (http://www.charitynavigator.org/), which ranks and categorizes charities. That made it really easy to find charities that met my criteria.
I recently read a book title, Six Word Memoirs, which has a website. If you had to write your memoir in six words, what would you write?
I have so many different interests, and I tend to get very enthusiastic about things. My family compares me to Mr. Toad in The Wind in the Willows, and they all cringe every time I say “I’ve had an idea!” I love to learn new things and embrace new experiences. So I suppose my memoir would be “I seized life with both hands.”
Do you listen to music when write? If so, what would be a playlist on your ipod?
It’s kind of backwards—I’ll be writing a scene, and a song will come to mind that matches it, and then that song plays in my head as I’m writing it. For example, in the scene where Ashlyn is driving to Santa Barbara, leaving her old life behind her, the ColdPlay song “Viva la Vida” started playing in my head, so I actually wrote that into the scene. In a later scene when her life seems to be hitting bottom, the Mazzy Star song “Into Dust” started playing in my head, so I put that on and played it over and over while I worked on that scene until my family was yelling at me to turn it off.. I seem to have an inner theme song for just about everything. When I’m doing triathlons, my brain plays the Mermen’s “Silly Elephant Who Stomped to Tea” during the swim, Finger Eleven’s “One Thing” during the bike leg, and Juno Reactor’s “Pistolero” during the run. Lately when I’m really stressed out at work, “Defying Gravity” from Wicked helps me through it.
What other books would you recommend young adults to read besides your own?
There are so many fantastic books out there! I’m crazy about the Harry Potter series, and I really like Pretties/Uglies/Specials (didn’t like Extras that much). I love the Artemis Fowl books. Right now I’m reading Snow Crash for the first time and I’m loving it. The best advice I can give is to follow blogs like Coffee for the Brain to hear about what’s out there, and then use a site like Good Reads to share ideas with friends.
Do you know when book 2 will be published?
The second book, Merger, is nearly done. I’m in final edits on it right now, so it just depends on when I feel that it’s ready. Should be about another month. Book three, Fracture, is about 75% written, but I spend a lot of time editing (it took me nine weeks to write the first draft of Rising Shadow and nine months to edit it), so I think Fracture is probably about nine months away.
What type of Soterian would you be?
Definitely a Scout, with strong Empath tendencies. I think I’d be an Alchemist for sure.
Here are some additional random questions that you could answer if you feel like it(though not really necessary, but students wanted me to add). These come from the Teacher Mystery Challenge that I have on my blog. They thought it would be cool to hear answers from an author.
1. What flavor of Kool Aid is your favorite?
I can’t remember the last time I had Kool Aid, but I always loved the red one.
2. What do you think of hot dogs?
I’m a vegetarian, and I love veggie dogs (there’s nothing gross in them like regular hot dogs) with a lot of mustard.
3. Favorite Holiday movie or tv special?
Gotta be Rudolph. As a kid, I remember laughing for hours after hearing Yukon Cornelius say “Bumbles bounce!”
4. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
We’re sort of coffee snobs in my house, so mornings consist of Blue Bottle coffee brewed through a glass siphon pot topped off with Wildwood soy creamer. My husband is taking a break from caffeine, so we drink the Blue Bottle decaf, which is fantastic. If I get coffee with my co-workers in the afternoon, it’s a soy gingerbread latte from Peet’s or a chai.
5. Can you do push ups? If yes, how many?
I can only do about ten full push ups at a time. Pathetic. I’m working on it.
6. Favorite hobby?
I have a gazillion hobbies, but I would have to say that writing is my favorite.
7. Middle name?
Christine
8. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
Is this swine flu or just a regular virus?
Will I ever stop getting zits?
Why are all my thoughts questions?
9. Current worry?
Whether this virus is actually swine flu.
10. Dum da dum dummmm what is that?
Tums! Do they still have that ad on TV? I hardly ever watch TV anymore.
11. Where would you like to go?
Scotland. I've had this thing about Scotland for like the last fifteen years. Not sure why, since I’ve never been there.
12. Do you own slippers?
Probably, but I never wear them.
13. What color shirt are you wearing right now?
Blue (I’m still in my pajamas)
14. Can you whistle?
Yes, and I can whistle very loudly through my fingers, which is quite useful at concerts.
15. Favorite color?
Black. No, purple. No, black! It used to be green.
16. Would you be a pirate?
I would be a ninja who can talk like a pirate and sail a ship. Think of the advantage the ninja skills would bring when you're climbing the rigging.
17. What was the last song that was stuck in your head?
The Tums theme (thanks for putting it there). Before that it was “Defying Gravity.”
18. What’s in your pocket right now?
Kleenex
19. Best toy as a child?
I loved my basketball and my tire swing. And I loved board games like Monopoly, Clue, and Life. We also had a pinball machine, which rocked.
20. What is your favorite candy?
In the non-chocolate category, it’s watermelon Jolly Ranchers. Otherwise, just about anything made of dark chocolate.
21. Favorite Sports Team?
The San Francisco 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings.
22. What are you currently reading?
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. It’s awesome.
23. What is your favorite book of all time?
I don’t think I could ever get it down to just one favorite. If I had to list the ones I’ve re-read the most, I’d say Pride and Prejudice, Neuromancer, Summon the Keeper, and The Goblet of Fire.
24. If you could meet anyone living or dead who would it be and why?
Gandhi. It is absolutely amazing what he was able to accomplish through non-violence.
25. What would we find in your refrigerator right now?
A lot of condiments. Hopefully some kale. I really like kale. My husband does all the cooking, so I really don’t know what’s in there.
26. What is one fact that readers would not know about you prior to asking this question?
I used to be terrified of a lot of stuff—bees, the dark, open water, sharks, heights, etc. And then one day, in my early twenties, I decided I was sick of being afraid and started facing my fears one by one.. I walked through the house with all the lights off until I finally got over it. I hung out next to a flowering bush covered with bees and focused on noticing how cool the bees actually were until they didn't freak me out anymore. I went skydiving to get over my fear of heights. Training for triathlons got me over the open-water problem. I still haven’t swum with sharks, but it’s on my list. Then again, there's not much reason to get over one's fear of sharks--that would fall into the "healthy fear" category.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Teacher Mystery Challenge #8
Nice work figuring out it the teacher last week. You are now 6-1 in your voting standings. Here is the next set of interview questions. Good luck!
- What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? Grape!
- What do you think of hot dogs? I’ll eat a hot dog while camping, only if I can follow it up with a s’more.
- Favorite
- What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Milk
- Can you do push ups? If yes, how many? Yes. I can maybe do 15-20 if they aren’t moving push ups.
- Favorite hobby? I like so many things it’s hard to choose a favorite, so I’ll name a few: fishing, dancing, & watching movies.
- Middle name?
- Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? I have a lot of work to do, I need to cut my nails, my coworkers make my job worthwhile
- Current worry? I think I’m getting a cold
- Dum da dum dummmm what is that? I like this better: Dum dum dee dum, dum dum dee dum dum
- Where would you like to go? Australia/New
- Do you own slippers? Yes, but I don’t wear them…I like socked feet best.
- What color shirt are you wearing right now? Brown
- Can you whistle? Yes
- Favorite color?
- Would you be a pirate? It would be a cool costume, but I couldn’t take things from other people.
- What was the last song that was stuck in your head? Toes by Zac Brown Band
- What’s in your pocket right now? A blue ink pen, other than that I hate having things in my pockets.
- Best toy as a child? Transformers
- What is your favorite candy? I like all candy (the reason I have to do # 5 & much more).
- Favorite Sports Team? None
- What are you currently reading? I’m currently in limbo; I need to find something to hold my interest.
- What is your favorite book of all time? Not that it was great writing, but I’m a Twilight Series junky.
- If you could meet anyone living or dead who would it be and why? Maybe Janet Jackson because I’ve always wanted to dance in her videos.
- What would we find in your refrigerator right now? Lots of milk, some lettuce, lunchmeat, eggs, yogurt, various condiments…pretty boring!
- What is one fact that students would not know about you prior to asking this question? I have Glossophobia, but usually not in front of students.
- If you were an animal/a can of soup/some other random object, which one would you be? I would be a fly. I would know everything that’s going on and I could leave things behind on the food of people I dislike.
Friday, December 11, 2009
My Six Word Memoir For the Week
I have decided to add a new series to the blog where once a week I will share a six word idea on how I am feeling at that particular moment of the week. Feel free to chime and share your six word feeling in the comments as I post my ideas. Until next time, check out my favorite memoirs from the books that I have reviewed, check out the SMITH website, and share your own memoirs. Choose your words carefully.
6 Word Memoir of the Week
Why can’t I just say “NO!”?
Why can’t I just say “NO!”?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
My First Book Give Away Contest
What better way to celebrate my birthday than to give something away? Read on for more information
Since this is my first contest I’m going to keep it pretty easy to enter – the more entries, the better chance to win! And what might you win???
I have had the awesome opportunity through email correspondence to meet with the amazing author Jacquelyn Wheeler. She not only created a great read, but she is also super cool and definitely fits the characteristics of my fellow nerd clansmen. Please check out her links and websites to learn more about her.
http://www.soterians.com/Home.html
http://jacquelynwheeler.blogspot.com/2009/11/six-tips-for-writers.html
She sent me two copies of her first novel in the Soterian Series: Rising Shadow.
This first giveaway contest is for a regular copy of the book. I will be giving away one copy of Rising Shadow by Jacquelyn Wheeler. I will admit that there are three scribble marks on the last page due to my daughter getting a hold of a pen and this book while I left the room for 30 seconds. However, it will not ruin any reading moments.
If anyone has any questions, please email me at: aarmau@gmail.com
How to Enter:
+2 for following me. (you must be following me to be eligible to win. Please let me know you are a follower in your comment and/or email)
+1 for leaving a comment with your correct email information. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving your email in a comment, please email me your information. In your comment share with me a book that you recommend I read.
+2 for submitting me a header picture for my blog. The image must contain the words "Coffee For The Brain"
+1 for posting, adding to a side bar or tweeting about this contest. (+1 for each of these you do, please post links.)
+1 for submission of snowmen images from the other challenge on my blog. (+1 for each of these you do, I will give +1 for up to three snowmen)
Everyone has a chance to have a total of 9 entries! I think that’s pretty good. :o)
*Please check my Contest Policy for all info and rules about contests here.*
DEADLINE to ENTER: January 8th, 2010 US ONLY! Sorry!!! Good Luck to everyone!
Announce Winner: January 9th. See Contest Info for more info.
I simply ask that you read the book and when finished to please pass it on for others to read. Share the book and help spread the word of this author.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Random Thoughts and Ideas for the Week
Here are the three questions posed to you in the Nerd Update Video
1. What is your favorite fauna?
2. What is up with the crazy guy?
3. What is a nibblet?
Watch the video and then answer the questions in the comments below. Enjoy my fellow nerd clansmen. Don't forget to check out Nerd Factory Episode 9 that was created on Saturday. You know you want to watch that one too.
Oh yeah! Please don't forget to post/email/dropbox me your questions that you would like for me to answer. I am making the video soon. I have some questions, but I need more. PLEASE SEND QUESTIONS or POST in comments or submit in DROPBOX. Here is a link to the Question Post
Here is that darn catchy Gap Commercial
Here is a link to the crazy guy that I mentioned in the video. Submit responses.
Awesome Coffee Pictures
Miley Cyrus
Here are some additional links to think about and check out when you want to waste time.
Here are 12 of the nerdiest, but yet coolest wallet designs. I want them all(too bad I never have any money to warrant the use of carrying a wallet)
These two great ideas were found at Mental Floss
Weekend Project 1: A coloring book dress you can wear! (ok this version is a little pricey, but it’s a cool idea overall!)
*
Weekend Project 2: How to Make a 3-D Origami Christmas Star. Report back if you managed it!
1. What is your favorite fauna?
2. What is up with the crazy guy?
3. What is a nibblet?
Watch the video and then answer the questions in the comments below. Enjoy my fellow nerd clansmen. Don't forget to check out Nerd Factory Episode 9 that was created on Saturday. You know you want to watch that one too.
Oh yeah! Please don't forget to post/email/dropbox me your questions that you would like for me to answer. I am making the video soon. I have some questions, but I need more. PLEASE SEND QUESTIONS or POST in comments or submit in DROPBOX. Here is a link to the Question Post
Below are the links to items mentioned in the video.
Here is that darn catchy Gap Commercial
Here is a link to the crazy guy that I mentioned in the video. Submit responses.
Awesome Coffee Pictures
Miley Cyrus
Here are some additional links to think about and check out when you want to waste time.
Here are 12 of the nerdiest, but yet coolest wallet designs. I want them all(too bad I never have any money to warrant the use of carrying a wallet)
These two great ideas were found at Mental Floss
Weekend Project 1: A coloring book dress you can wear! (ok this version is a little pricey, but it’s a cool idea overall!)
*
Weekend Project 2: How to Make a 3-D Origami Christmas Star. Report back if you managed it!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Snowman Challenge: The First Picture
Yahoo! The first snowman has arrived. Keep them coming people. Stay true to the nerd clansmen virtues and submit those pictures. Make as many as you like. I need more snowman!!! Yippy Skippy for the first one!
Snowman Challenge
Use one of the following templates of the snowmen that I have shared below. You can simply copy and paste. What I want you to is to decorate the snowman to your own liking and submit to me. You can decorate on the computer using any software or tools of your choice, you can print it off and color by hand or decorate with other materials. I don’t care how you create your snowman, but I want an army of snowman. I want hundreds of snowman. I will create a special segment showcasing the entire collection of snowmen. I have some cool ideas of sharing your artwork, but in order for me to pull it off I need tons of snowmen. So……use your free time and create a snowman. Turn in to me in my office, my drop box or via email at aarmau@gmail.com. This is open to anyone who reads my blog so please start your flood of creative juices. Happy snowmannig? (is that even a word?)
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday Morning Reminders
As always it seems like my weekends and my life continue to become more hectic and chaotic. So I have once again decided to create a post to help remind and inform everyone with things going on with the blog.
1. I posted the Nerd Factory Episode 9 on Saturday. Be sure to watch the video(Scroll down or go the sidebar) and vote for it. 5 stars would be nice.
2. New Teacher Mystery Challenge is up and running
3. Nerd Debate is also posted: What is the best holiday song? Voting is open in the sidebar.
4. Six Word Memoir Book Review and a request for you to share your memoirs. A new series will begin on Wednesday where I post my six word phrase that summarizes my thoughts for the week.
5. Tuesday I will be opening a new challenge: Snowman decoration contest. Stay tuned for that.
6. On Saturday I reflected on my life with my birthday quickly approaching. I have posed a serious challenge for you. Please go scroll down, read, and join in on the challenge.
That is all for now. Thanks for reading and I am off to educate the youth and try to figure out how to get caught up with my to-do-list so I can get more videos made for my blog. I have a few ideas that are burning up my brain that need to get recorded for the world to see.
Happy Monday. Just remember.....nevermind I cannot say what I want because I don't want to get in trouble, but email me if you would like to know.
Mr. Maurer
1. I posted the Nerd Factory Episode 9 on Saturday. Be sure to watch the video(Scroll down or go the sidebar) and vote for it. 5 stars would be nice.
2. New Teacher Mystery Challenge is up and running
3. Nerd Debate is also posted: What is the best holiday song? Voting is open in the sidebar.
4. Six Word Memoir Book Review and a request for you to share your memoirs. A new series will begin on Wednesday where I post my six word phrase that summarizes my thoughts for the week.
5. Tuesday I will be opening a new challenge: Snowman decoration contest. Stay tuned for that.
6. On Saturday I reflected on my life with my birthday quickly approaching. I have posed a serious challenge for you. Please go scroll down, read, and join in on the challenge.
That is all for now. Thanks for reading and I am off to educate the youth and try to figure out how to get caught up with my to-do-list so I can get more videos made for my blog. I have a few ideas that are burning up my brain that need to get recorded for the world to see.
Happy Monday. Just remember.....nevermind I cannot say what I want because I don't want to get in trouble, but email me if you would like to know.
Mr. Maurer
Book Review: Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by the famous writers and obscure
My obsession with the Six Word Memoir idea and books has once again come back to resurface. This review will be different because there is not really a story to sum up and reflect on. Instead there are hundreds of life stories shared in six words. The latest book that I read in the series was Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by the famous writers and obscure from Smith Magazine. I absolutely love reading these memoirs. I check the site everyday and this book I had to read as it was one that finally came in the library. I have decided to buy all the books because I love to read these so much. They cause you to process your life. How would you write your life in six words? I have posed this question before and I pose it to you again. Write your memoir in six words and submit to the comments. I have added my top 10(current) memoirs from this book. The first one was in the introduction. I share this because to read this book you must read them slowly and think about who the person behind the memoir truly is. The first one posted is described in the introduction as “The bittersweet “Cursed with cancer. Blessed with friends” came not from a wise, optimistic grandmother, but a nine-year old thyroid-cancer patient survivor. Knowing this tidbit completely changes the dynamics of this memoir and as I read the book I had to stop to visualize the different people who could have shared this or that particular memoir.
I have also decided to add a new series to the blog where once a week I will share a six word idea on how I am feeling at that particular moment of the week. Feel free to chime and share your six word feeling in the comments as I post my ideas. Until next time, check out my favorite memoirs from the book below, check out the SMITH website, and share your own memoirs. Choose your words carefully.
Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends
Says deaf boyfriend: you’re too quiet
Fix a toilet, get paid crap
Lived in moment until moment sucked
Dabbler in much, expert in none
Girlfriend is pregnant, my husband said
Lived like no tomorrow, tomorrow came
Well, I thought it was funny
Thank god the suicide attempt failed
Detergent Girl: Bold. Tide. Cheer. All
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