Back To the Grind

After having a joyous ten days off in a row, I schlepped back to work on Tuesday. A big part of me was ready to get back, but there was part that would have liked to have stayed home. I was able to get a decent amount of writing done (more on that tomorrow) while I was off, so that was good.

Suddenly, though, I was thrust back into the work frenzy, and it seemed like everything kicked in all at once. We started a big training initiative the day after I returned, so the first day back we were scrambling to make last minute preparations for that. Then, I had a big Lions Club planning meeting scheduled for that evening. Add the fact that I had to get my rear in gear in the morning and get back to the gym to work off some of my vacation excesses. That meant that I left home at 6:30 in the morning and arrived home a about 10:00 that night--ugh! Can I have another helping of vacation, please.

Still, in spite of work, an exercise, and Lions I haven't neglected my first book. I'm managing to keep things going on the publicity front. Earlier this week I was the subject of an interview on a fantastic blog, The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow. They'd also reviewed The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel just before Christmas. I'm very grateful for their support and encouragement, and I really recommend that you all check their blog out and follow it!

On the local front, I'm working on getting my first major book signing set up. I'll share the details when I get everything hammered out, but it's shaping up to be a nice event. It'll combine books, friends and food--how can you go wrong with that?

As I'm writing this, I can't help but think how much I've been blessed regarding this book. The help--unasked for no less--that I've received has just been overwhelming. From Ana Vogel and her layout, to Daniel Vogel and his cover and illustrations, to my wife Stephanie, Christine and all our friends, to Stephanie and Jess at Secret Files, to the Citizen News and the News Times, and all the friends  who've been so enthusiastic about the book, and on and on. Thank you all so much!

That's it for now. I'll be back tomorrow to talk about some actual writing!

What's Christian Reading? Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever

Today is the debut of another new feature, What's Christian Reading? This is what it's all about. Christian is my nine--soon to be ten--year old son. He reads all the time. So I thought it would be interesting to check in with him once a week to find out what he's reading.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not even pretending that these can even remotely be classified as book reviews. However, if you're looking for a fourth grader's take on a book, this is the place.

I also have to take a moment to explain his rating system. He chose to rate books using flaming monkey heads (I think it's a video game thing or something). So, books will be rated on a scale of one to five flaming monkey heads, five being the best. So, here we go.

This week, Christian has been reading Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney.

According to Christian, this is what the story's about.

It's about a wimpy boy named Greg Heffley who finds himself trapped at home in a freak snowstorm with no power. Before the snowstorm, Greg and his friend Rowley get into a whole lot of mischief, like using a sprinkler to clear a snow covered driveway, and starting their own newspaper to tell people about the holiday bazaar that they're planning. In fact, it's the bazaar that gets them into trouble.

They put up some signs on school grounds to advertise the bazaar, but the writing runs in the rain and makes a big mess. It makes the real paper, and Greg just knows they'll be found out. That's when the snowstorm hits, and Greg and his family are trapped inside the house without power.

What did Christian like most about the book?

The fact that Greg is wimpy gives the book some depth. Christian also liked the fact that Greg is able to rough out the big snowstorm by rationing out ketchup. He also liked the part where they all cuddled up on the queen sized pullout couch with a blanket over them to share body warmth.

Was there anything that Christian didn't like?

Christian didn't like the fact that the family babys Greg's younger brother Manny, which doesn't give Manny the chance to grow up. He also did not like that Greg's dad spent the whole time of the snowstorm in a hotel with power and heat.

So, how does Christian rate the book?

Christian gives it 4 1/2 out of 5 Flaming Monkey Heads.

       

Did You Know? The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Today is the debut of our second new feature, Did You Know? In this feature, I wrack my tortured brain (and in cases when my brain won't cooperate, search Google) for little known facts about the preceding day's character and/or the author of the book. Some of these facts you may know, others might be new to you.

It's kind of like Trivial Pursuit without the pursuit. Oh, hang on, that doesn't work out so good...anyway, check out these facts.

Did You Know?

• The character of Tom Sawyer is based on Mark Twain and two other boys that he grew up with?
• The story is not set in Hannibal, Missouri, but in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Missouri? St. Petersburg is loosely based on Twain's boyhood recollections of Hannibal.
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was written in Hartford, Connecticut between 1874 & 1875?
• McDougal's Cave, where Tom and Becky come upon Injun Joe, is based on an actual cave? McDowell's Cave became a great tourist attraction in 1886 when it became known as Mark Twain Cave.
• Mark Twain's name was actually Samuel Langhorne Clemons?
• The name Mark Twain is a nautical term used by riverboat pilots that denoted a water depth of twelve feet, which was the minumim for safe passage?
• The name Mark Twain first appeared in 1863 in an article for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise?
• Mark Twain was colorblind?
• Twain did not graduate from elementary school, but was awarded an honorary doctorate in letters by Oxford University?
• Twain suffered through a period of depression, and over a five year period lost his wife, a daughter, and his best friend?
• Twain was born during a visit by Halley's Comet, and he predicted that he would "go out with it" as well. He died the day following the comet's subsequent return.

What little known facts do you know about Mark Twain or The Adventures of Tom Sawyer? Share it as a comment.

Monday Interview Series: Tom Sawyer

It's a new year, so it's the perfect time to introduce a new series of interviews with famous characters in classic children's literature and fairy tales. The interviews with the characters from my book proved to be so popular, that I thought, hey, why not interview characters from other children's books?

Today, we're kicking the series off with one of my favorite characters, Tom Sawyer. Let me know how you like it.

Greg:  Welcome Tom, it’s great to have you here!

Tom: Thanks, Mr. Greg, sir. It were nice of ya t’ have me.

Greg:  Tell us a little bit about yourself, Tom.

Tom: Shucks, taint much t’ tell, really. I started m’ life very young, but I growed up. Now, I live free an’ easy, ‘cept when I got t’ go t’ that ol’ school. Aunt Pol’s always tryin’ t’ git me t’ go, but I outfox her more often than not. Got a nice place up in the piney woods. It’s a whole fort where I fight off injuns an’ hide treasure an’ such.

Sometimes I got t’ go t’ church, too. Go t’ Sunday school an’ larn Bible passages ‘n’ things. I won me a Bible oncet. Yep, I sure did. I got enough o’ them there tickets the Rev’rand give out for learnin’ Bible verses. I traded a whole pile of treasure with the boys in school t’ get them tickets. It was worth it, too. Preacher called me up, an’ I got me that Bible in front o’ the whole class, includin’ Becky Thatcher. I was slicker ‘n’ a greased pig, I can tell you.

I’m also good at fightin’. I just about licked every boy in school, an’ some o’ the girls, too. “Course that comes from m’ piratin’. Ya got t’ be able to lick anyone that crosses your path, iffin you’re a pirate. I recall the time me ‘n’ Joe Harper ‘n’ol’  Huck Finn run away t’ be pirates. Boy did we have a time!

Greg:  Where do you live, when you’re not terrorizing the seven seas, I mean?

Tom:  I live in the town of St. Petersburg, Missouri with m’ Aunt Polly, m' half brother Sid. I live next door t’ Becky Thatcher. We’re engaged, but don’t tell no one. It’s supposed t’ be secret. Keep it mum. Wouldn’t do no good if Becky was t’ get wind I told ya.

Greg:  In all of your adventures, what’s the worst thing you ever saw?

Tom:  I don’t rightly know. I seen a lot o’ worst things. I saw Injun Joe all laid out an’ starved t’ death after bein’ trapped in McDougal’s Cave. Me ‘n’ Becky was trapped in the cave with Injun Joe.

I s’pose the worst thing I ever saw had t’ be Doc Robi’son getting’ killed by Injun Joe. See, the way it happened was me ‘n’ Huck was in the graveyard with a dead cat tryin’ t’ catch some devils. All of a sudden,

We Have A Winner!!

Happy New Year, everybody! I hope your celebration was good, and that 2012 is off to a great start for you. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you who became followers of the blog, and those of you who liked the book's Facebook page!

And now,without further ado,  the winner of our first book giveaway contest is...Sara Frantz! Congratulations, Sara! Your copy of The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel is on the way.

Thanks again to all of you! Be on the lookout for more giveaways in the near future, and remember that new weekly features will be appearing starting a little later today.