Did You Know? Aesop

For the last couple of weeks, I've posted interviews with characters from Aesop's Fables, specifically, the Grasshopper and the Tortoise. So, this latest edition of Did You Know? serves up some little known information about Aesop.

Did You Know...

• Aesop is believed to have been born about 620 B.C.?
• No one is certain that Aesop ever really existed? There are many conflicting stories about his life, none of which have ever been substantiated.
• No writings by him survive?
• Some stories of his life say he was a Greek slave who was extremely ugly? In these versions, he was a hunchback.
• Still other stories say he was an Ethiopian?
• There are over 200 fables attributed to Aesop?
• Socrates converted some of Aesop's fables to verse when he was in prison?
• The fables have been changed and adapted so much that they are very different from the original versions?
• It is believed that Aesop died in Delphi? Supposedly, he was on a diplomatic mission there, and insulted them. They sentenced him to death, and threw him off a cliff.

Now, here's a clip from the Merrie Melodies version of The Tortoise and the Hare called Tortoise Beats Hare, starring Bugs Bunny. I love these cartoons!

Monday Interview Series: The Tortoise

I thought that this week I'd slow the pace down a little bit, so I arranged to have my friend the Tortoise stop by for a chat. Now, I had to arrange this a few weeks ago, and he's only just arrived. He's still breathing rather hard, but he says he's ready, so here goes.

Greg:  First of all, I'd like to thank you for coming. I know the Olympics are going on right now, and it must be killing you not to be there.

Tortoise:  Oh not at all, not at all. I've retired, you see. No more racing around for me. It always gave me motion sickness.

Greg:  What sort of advice would you give to our track and field athletes?

Tortoise:  It has always been my experience that slow and steady wins the race. It is always best to put one's head down and dive right in. That applies not only to track and field, I've found. Michael Phelps always dives right in, and look where it got him.

Greg:  Well, that sounds like good advice. Let's talk a little about your race. What stands out about it for you?

Tortoise:  Before the race, I remember that the Hare was talking a lot of trash. He was saying things like he'd run the course three times before I'd even got halfway. I don't like to speak badly of people, but that was uncalled for.

A Writer's Week #30: Dog Days

The term "dog days of summer" really applied to this past week. I'm in the middle of a long project at work that seems to be stretching on forever. It was supposed to be finished a month ago, but probably won't be completed until the end of next month--that is if no other roadblocks crop up.

On the marketing front, the I Like Summer Giveaway was concluded successfully. Thanks to all who entered! Other than that, though, things are slow. Sales of The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel, which have tended to come and go in waves, are currently at low tide. Admittedly, my marketing efforts have been minimal this summer. Add to that the fact that any extra cash has been earmarked for our upcoming vacation, and it's really not that surprising that sales have tailed off.

I am looking forward to the fall when I can resume school visits, and when I might have some extra cash to buy a table at a few craft and/or book shows. Besides, after Christmas, I hope to have an additional book to sell!

That leads me into the writing aspect of things. The dog days of summer have struck here, too, but in a good way. I'm deep down into the writing of The Deliverers 2. It's a place where the writing is steady, but it feels like I've been writing the book forever. Still, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm moving steadily to the conclusion.

Each week, my goal is to write 2,000 words. This week, I wrote 2,000 words, which brings me up to 38,000 words, 170 pages and 44 chapters. I estimate that the book will wind up being 50,000 words, which means I'll have the first draft done by the end of September if I stick to my goal of 2,000 words a week and take a week off while we're away on vacation.

I've also spoken to Daniel Vogel about illustrating The Deliverers 2, and he's agreed. So, If editing and rewriting goes smoothly, I'm hoping the new book will be out in January. Something exciting to think about--briefly. But to get there, I'm going to have to keep slogging along; I'm also going to have to come up with a name for the book! Can I keep it up? I'll let you know how it goes next week.

Cal Endria's Journal: 10th November, 4169

There is much excitement on board ship these past few days. So much so that not even Sharky's tyrannical behavior can dampen it. After our recent trip ashore, those among the crew who are looking to retire from the pirating life were heartened to find such a likely place to start a settlement.

They have been brimming with excitement, and some are already planning the layout of the settlement as if we had secured our release from the crew. They are forgetting one small item, and that is of course Sharky himself.

Of course it falls upon me as first mate to approach Sharky with  our appeal. He is not likely to take kindly to it. I shall be lucky if he does not kill me on the spot. However, it is worth the risk if by some small chance it will lead to our release from the crew.

I have thought much upon the matter of late, and believe I have devised a bargain that will appeal to the greed that thrives in his evil heart. I pray that he agrees.

I have determined to put our bargain to him in the morning in the hope that he will be of a more agreeable disposition at that hour. Well, I shall find out. If not, this shall be my final entry.

What's Abigail Reading? The Girl With 500 Middle Names

This week, Abigail was really into a book that I'd never heard of. It's called The Girl With 500 Middle Names, by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Let's see what she had to say about it.

Here's what Abigail says the book is about.

"It's about Janie who moves to another school because her old school is all broken. Windows are broken and desks are dirty. It wasn't a nice school. When she comes into the new school, which is called Satterthwaite, she thinks her desk is totally new, because it looks so clean. A girl named Kimberly turns around--she's a classmate in Mrs. Burton's class--and says that her friend used to sit there. Janie can't believe it because it looks so new. 

"Janie has these sweaters with names on them. The gym teacher called her Lindsey, because that's the name on the sweater she was wearing that day. Kimberly said to Janie that she wished the gym teacher called her Allyson because that's her middle name and she liked it better than Kimberly.

"She had so many sweaters all with different names that the kids started thinking she had 500 middle names. Janie really didn't have a middle name, because her parents thought there wasn't any name better than Janie. They looked in a book, and couldn't find a good middle name, so they didn't give her one."

What did Abigail like best about the book?

"I liked the part where Janie makes a friend. She never had a real friend before, so it was nice that she made one."

Was there anything that Abigail didn't like about the book?

"I didn't like when she was getting bullied in her old elementary school. I don't like when I or anyone else gets picked on. It's not nice."

So how does Abigail rate The Girl With 500 Middle Names, by Margaret Peterson Hadddix?

She gives it five out of five dolphins.