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MIDDLE SCHOOL TRAGEDY: Reading Sucks, Man

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MIDDLE SCHOOL TRAGEDY: Reading Sucks, Man

Reading sucksReading Sucks is the reply this children’s book author heard when handing out free bookmarks at the Abbot Kinney Street Festival this past weekend.  Sadly, it was delivered by a tweenage boy, who’s father simply shrugged to the behavior.  As a children’s book author, my heart nearly broke when I heard a kid say, ‘reading sucks.’  I mean, how did we fail with this kid?  Where did our system of education go wrong?  Sure, not only was this a tragic statement to hear from a child, but to witness the father’s blasé attitude only confirmed our theory on why the statement was heard: don’t blame the child, blame the lazy parent!

Here is the article I wrote that appeared in the Santa Monica Daily Press:

“Grilling hot dogs, homemade ice cream sandwiches and the snap-crackling sounds of barbecuing corn on the cob.  The organizers of the 2010 Abbott Kinney Festival were ignited this past weekend as the mercury rose enough to finally deliver Santa Monica its first summer day of 2010. Little did I know, however, that a snarky comment from a twelve year-old kid could bring…CLICK HERE to read the entire article in the SANTA MONICA DAILY PRESS!

Domestic Violence Disguised as Entertainment

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domestic violence disguised as entertainmentDomestic Violence Disguised as Entertainment

We are so used to domestic violence disguised as entertainment, our moral responsibilities are being sold down the river.  Maybe Phil Collins had it right when he said, ‘I don’t care anymore…you hear me, I don’t care anymore.”

I left the comforts and steady pay of the cop world drama on LAW & ORDER because the stories of murder began to take it’s toll on my soul.  Every day we’d sit around and create more stories of murder.  This is how I was using my creativity?  The glorification of murder?  I decided it was time to tell other stories.  Having been involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, I finally found my way into the telling stories for children. You could say I am now very protective of ‘my kids’, which are mostly the middle school children across the country, so when a network decides to use domestic violence disguised as entertainment where kids are the center of all the violence, I have to say, enough is enough.

Having grown up watching the original Hawaii Five-O, not to mention a fan of Scott Caan’s, I decided to DVR the new Hawaii Five-O.  I know what I am going to get with a show like this, situational domestic violence, guns, murder, and all things network television cop drama.  What I didn’t account on getting was a storyline involving situational domestic violence in front of and around a child.

As the author of Saltwater Taffy, a children’s adventure novel that inspires as much as it entertains, I have a big issue with most of the network programming we have today.  Like most stories of situational domestic violence…

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MIDDLE SCHOOL READING: I Want To Be Older Now

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middle school readingMIDDLE SCHOOL READING: I Want To Be Older Now

A common trait in middle school reading and being a middle school student is the burning desire to be older, NOW.

This is why you guys read books with characters who are older than you are.  Sad to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s no getting around this one.  Every day is filled with 24 hours and every week is 7 days.

Trust me, I know what I’m talking about because I’m still a kid myself.  If you read Saltwater Taffy, you know that main character is me!  And when I was twelve years old, I wanted a later bedtime.  Who wouldn’t?  I mean, when you this age, you want to have more time doing what you want to do, not what your parents or teachers want you to do, right?  I hear ya, but the thing about your desire to be older is that it develops a bad habit in the future.   That bad habit is never really enjoying the moment you are in because…

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WRITING CHILDREN’S BOOKS

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do_your_bestWRITING CHILDREN’S BOOKS

One of the biggest secrets to writing children’s books is to watch your own thoughts.   Be careful not to judge your abilities, just trust in the process and keep moving the story forward.  Remember, if a chapter or page doesn’t propel your story, then CUT IT.  Be bold.  Be ruthless with your story.  If you don’t, who will?  Certainly not your readers because they will lose interest.

The process of creating my Middle Grade Fiction novel, Saltwater Taffy has been a wild ride.  By saying it’s been a wild ride, I mean my thoughts were all over the place…thoughts of JUDGEMENT, right there alongside…. Read more

CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Getting Reviewers Attention

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CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Getting Reviewers Attention

Children's BookThe best way to get the attention of a children’s book reviewer is to BE DIFFERENT.  No matter what you do or where you go, someone is going to tell you that what you’re doing is not only hard, but impossible.

When you hear this, you must begin to KNOW that you are on the right track.  This is what is called BLAZING A TRAIL.  To be a trail blazer who wants to write children’s books, you have to…

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