Be A School Visit Ninja

October 19, 2013 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Annex, TaborSpace, 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon.

Erin Fitzpatrick Bjorn will be speaking. This is a free class that will teach you all sorts of tips and tricks on how to become a Ninja...and who wouldn't want to be that?

Erin will reveal what writers and illustrators need to do to find funding...and more. There will be ideas on how to approach librarians and create compelling curriculum. There will be time after the presentation for attendees to form small work groups...

It should be a fun way to spend a day or at least a couple of hours.

Heft by Liz Moore

I just finished HEFT. It was a book about a man who weighed between 500-600 pounds. It was a sad story on lots of levels.

In the end I liked the story. HEFT was a symbolic title in many aspects and much more than just Arthur's weight. I think the HEFT could have represented the weight of Arthur's and Charlene's emotions and how much Arthur had to change to alter the way his life was going...or not going.

This was a story of missed-opportunities and how miserable life can turn out when you're not willing to take a risk or engage in relationships.

All in all, I think it is worth reading. It's a little slow but the story builds...

If you've read it, let me know what you thought.

Snake Alert

I started with a bunch of pumpkins and a squash.

I covered the little ones in "duck" tape.

I added little eyes and a tongue and some teeth.

Then I added a hood to make it a cobra.

FREAKY FRIDAY - Pennywise

I love Stephen King and I really enjoyed IT but I'm not sure I'd be up to see Pennywise lurking around a dark corner, carrying a balloon and stalking me down the street. I don't know, how about you?

If you're wondering what I'm talking about, check out this article here.

What do you think, would you be creeped out if you saw a clown on a corner just hanging around?

Talent Comes in All Sizes

. . . and ages

Halloween Dream

HALLOWEEN DREAM

Ten little witches
on Halloween night,
one zoomed through the air
causing such a fright.

The second one cackled
and held up her sturdy broom
The third one giggled,
as she flew across the room.

The fourth one said,
“Let’s create a little fear.”
The fifth one laughed,
“I’ll make sure the coast is clear.”

The sixth one soared high into the sky.
The seventh one said, “I’m ready now to fly.”
The eighth witch sat beside Ebony, her cat.
The ninth witch cried, “I forgot my favorite hat!”

Jake cried, “That must have been a dream.”

But the tenth little witch yelled,
“Happy Halloween!”

Wordstock Week

Okay so once there was Woodstock but now in Portland, Oregon, we have Wordstock. And if you're a writer, a reader or a bookivore of any sort you might want to spend this weekend at the Convention Center.

If you're interested in reading about the schedule of events, check out this link here.

And you can't beat the price: $9.00 for advance tickets and $11.00 day of show.

Hope to see you there.