Looking for good MG books, and Bloggers.

Oli's Uncommon Cents is coming out next month in paperback, ebook in May.  I'm looking for books with similar themes: adventure, inspiring, warm-hearted and funny.  Not books that are dark, vampirish, ghostly, or mystic... I know, that's a tough one.  I'm also looking for book bloggers who would be interested in receiving a book and giving a review on their blogs.  Let me know if you have some book suggestions and/or are an interested book blogger. Thanks!!

Life Lessons

The shooting at Chardon High School reminded me why I write for kids.  There are those gifted writers who purpose to entertain children and help them escape reality, hats off to them!  I hope my books entertain, but I want  more.  If I can craft a fiction novel that imparts a valuable life lesson, AND entertain, then I have slipped in a gold nugget without broadcasting the attempt.  Wouldn't it be a bonus if the content of a novel provoked a child to ask their parent a question about life-even better, a question about their life. Could someone have reached T.J. Lane through a book, a book that spoke to him about his worth, and the worth of others?

I've spent the morning reading...to two of my grandchildren.  I LOVE their intrigue, each page turned is a new adventure.  Sure, I have forgotten a lot about what it is like to be a full-time mom, but, one thing I haven't forgotten is how great it is to hear the SILENCE of wonder as a book is being read, to once rowdy children.  I suppose you could turn the TV on and get some of the same results, but then you have to listen to Dora's squeaky voice or Thomas and Gordon's english accent.  Besides I'll take a break from the chores to read a good book.

Here's a great link to an article written by, Mom It Forward.

http://bit.ly/ccQLbJ

I just added Oli's page to my website. Woo hoo!!  I'm getting excited to see my book in print. 
Illustrator, Sophie Mattinson, has completed the last of  7 illustrations, and the cover art.  She is amazing!  What is most amazing about her is that she is 17, a high school senior.  Her future as an artist will be limitless.  Most accomplished in portraits, her imagination has really been challenged while conceptualizing illustrations for coins, with the likeness of humans.  I'm proud of the job she has done. 


Take a look at her rendering of Penny, on my website, and tell me what you think :)  Go to the "OLI" page of my website.

Here is a bit of a challenge for those of you involved in kid's ministry.

As I've been developing my Sunday School curriculum I've been asking God to help me see His vision for both church development and the development of strong Christian children.  I continue to hear Him impress upon my heart the importance of joy in the journey.  He doesn't let me get far from the conviction of finding humor and laughter in life.  When I start to take life's events and circumstances too seriously He drops a scriptural nugget in front of me and makes me laugh at the humor of some aspect of that circumstance. 
Recently I was reading an interesting article regarding choosing appropriate Sunday School curriculum; once you read it you may find God inviting you to look at your churches vision, as well as your own and be challenged to expand your own genre of curriculum.  Maybe we should do a better job of thinking outside the box?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cbg/2008/mayjun/2.42.html

Seamless

Somehow I think we get it all wrong; the idea we have to be perfect is ridiculous.  The luring notion that we can achieve perfection seems appealing, but, in truth I don't think any of us really believe it of ourselves or others.  What I love so much about the main character, Oli, is that she is raw.  Simply put, she is who she is.  As I developed her character I thought about what kinds of friends I chose.  Those I felt most akin to were the ones with guts, determination and the strength to be themselves, despite opposition. Therein lies the framework for Oli. 

The lesson she teaches is that she is anything but seamless.  She's sewn together, just like us.  Seams down the sides holding her together.  After being drug around, put through the wash and hung out to dry her seams grow weak and tattered.  Oli finds her source of support and love, and none too soon.  They may just be coins to the common eye, but Oli discovers their extradorinary qualities.

Perhaps our eyes should be keen to our tattered seams.  Only then might we would look for something seamless, something outside ourselves... there is One who is Seamless, with Extraordinary Qualities!

  

Who Is Oli?

Oli and the Prophets of Uncommon Cents, is a fantasy novel about a young girl named, Oli, who is anything but ordinary.  Not only are her unique comrades rare, so is she.  Oli's character speaks to the thousands of young girls who feel as though they don't fit the, "girly mold".  Tom-boys are the typical label for girls like Oli, those who would rather ride dirt bikes, explore wilderness streams, herd cattle or play baseball with the guys on the block.  If you're one of those girls, or know someone who is, then watch for the release of this novel. Have you been ridiculed for your adventurous and unique spirit then you and Oli have much in common.