Angeline Jellybean has arrived

I'm hosting Angeline today. My job is to post a review.


Angeline Jellybean review
By Crystalee Calderwood
4RV Publishing LLC
October 2008

Reviewed by Elysabeth Eldering


What happens when too much of a good thing becomes too much? Angeline Jellybean is a girl who only likes to eat jellybeans. She wants them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Everyone knows that you can only eat so much of a good thing before it makes you sick in some way or other.

Once Angeline discovers that there are other things to eat besides jellybeans, everything turns out okay for her.

This delightful children's book is written in rhyme and is beautifully illustrated. It shows how too much of a good thing can really not be so good for a person.



Remember to tune in tomorrow and find out what is on Angeline's plate. Susan Thompson is bringing in the new year. Stop by and remember to leave comments. Hope you enjoy the tour - see you all in the postings - E :)

On the radio for real

I will be making an appearance on the radio on December 30th from 8:30 to 9 PM (EST). Hope you all will come out and listen to the interview. See you then - E :)

Hosting Angeline Jellybean

Another new tour is coming soon. I'll be hosting Crystalee Calderwood and Angeline Jellybean. I'm hoping Stephen will stop by as well. The schedule is as follows:

Angeline Jellybean Blog Tour

DECEMBER 28, 2008 Ransom Noble

DECEMBER 29, 2008 Vivian Zabel

DECEMBER 30, 2008 Laura Peters

DECEMBER 31, 2008 Elysabeth Eldering

JANUARY 1, 2009 Susan Thompson

JANUARY 2, 2009 Sarah Adkins

JANUARY 3, 2009 Lea Schizas

JANUARY 4, 2009 Crystalee Calderwood

Come ring in the new year with this delightful new children's book published by 4RV Publishing.

Radio time postponed

Okay I know I said I was going to do a radio spot today and I had all intentions of doing so, was told we wouldn't even eat dinner until late afternoon or closer to actual supper time because my brother and sister-in-law wouldn't be here until late afternoon. Well, they came about 2 o'clock this afternoon and we ended up having dinner at 4:15 and therefore, I missed my 4:30 time. I'll post when rescheduled, giving everyone a link to listen. Hope your Christmas was a merry one and that you all had a blessed day.

Awarded?

Holly Jahangiri's character, Trockle, just gave me the “Your Blog is Fabulous” Award!! I'm told the rules of the award are simple: Write about 5 addictions (not sure I can really come up with five addictions) you have and then pass the award on to the 5 blogs (that can be tough when everyone keeps nominating the same ones) that you think are Fabulous… So here goes:

Five addictions:
1. Chocolate, white, dark and milk (in that order, even though I know white is really not chocolate).
2. Computer games (spider solitaire and freecell mostly but addiction solitaire is right up there)
3. Grape Nuts hot


I'm at a total loss for items 4 and 5 (it's much harder to come up with things I'm addicted to than fun info about myself. I'll try to keep working on this and may edit it at a later date.


Five fabulous blogs:
1. Mr. Hughes
2. Batya's UPositive blog
3. Cassie Litton Gregory
4. Katie Hines
5. Rena Jones

Musing our Children Holiday issue newsletter

For your reading pleasure, pop on over to Musing Our Children's and enjoy the holiday issue of the newsletter we have put out.

My interview with Cheryl and her review are in the issue. Remember to share with other teachers and parents who would like to get their kids interested in reading and writing.

We are looking to do school visits in May (some authors charge fees to do presentations, which from my understanding is where the money can be made in the book industry, but during this week, we are offering free visits. There is a link for scheduling school visits at other times, so check us out. We have a lot to offer - a variety of authors and types of books published as well as different types of workshops. We also encourage kids to review books and have their parents and/or teachers post to the site. This is a great way to get the kids reading and keeps them involved in the process. There are tips and helpful hints and all kinds of things going on. Check us out and remember to keep checking back every so often for updates. Keep May 4 through May 8 in mind for school visits. See you all in the postings - E :)

An award for my blog!!!!

Who'd a thunk, we received an award.

Vivian Zabel, my publisher, has honored the JGDS series blog with the Honest Scrap award. Scrap means left overs, fragments, discarded material, and many times truth and honesty is discarded material, considered fragments and left over. So, we need to tell it like it is, and let the scraps fall where they will.

According to Lea's blog,The Writing Jungle, the guidelines for winning this award include the following:


1. List 10 honest things about yourself (make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!)
2. Pass the award on to 7 bloggers


Kind of like being tagged again except now I have to post something honest about myself, not that I have been dishonest in the tags.

1. I hate my mouth (in dire need of repairs or having them all taken out) so I don't smile as much as I used to.
2. I love receiving hugs from friends.
3. I hate kissing though.
4. I used to be really shy - when I was in school, before college days. People find that hard to believe since I am such a people person now.
5. I want to travel to every state before I die; if for nothing else but to just say I've been there. I have had extensive travels up and down the eastern seaboard and a few states out west, but with my series, I now have more of a desire to visit every state. I was glad when my father retired because it meant no more traveling and now I want to travel again.
6. I'm weird when it comes to snow. I love snowflake designs and would trim my tree (if I were doing a tree) with lots of different snowflake ornaments but I don't like snow much. I only like it for the time it has come down and enough to say it has snowed and then I want it to go away. If it lasts more than a day, then I'm tired of it.
7. I hate shopping - I've never felt a need to really do the girly shopping thing. Run in, get what I want or need and then out again. But I don't mind wandering through the store and looking at everything every once in a while, just out of curiosity.
8. When I make a friend, it is for life. There is no friend for a season or just in my life briefly.
9. My godmother was more like my mother than my real mother is. I felt I could confide in her without a problem. I miss her tremendously.
10. I'm at a loss for what to put for this one since it seems all my bases are covered with the list above. It's fun to receive an award just because.

The 7 blogs and people I will nominate are:

1. Batya Wininger
2. Janelle Dakota
3. Cassie Litton Gregory
4. Chai
5. Vonda Skelton
6. Mr. Hughes

The problem with 7 is that I visit many blogs but only consider a handful true friends. I am not sure who else to put here. Forgive me my friends. See you all in the postings - E :)

PIVTR appearance

Just announcing that the JGDS series will be doing a spot on the above internet radio on Christmas day from 4:30 to 4:45 EST. I'll be promoting the series as a whole and talk a bit about the upcoming books. Tune in by clicking the title link and join Lillian Cauldwell and others all afternoon and night Christmas day. Spots start at 4 pm and run until midnight. Hope you all will come and listen - see you in the postings - E :)

Virtual class visits continue with some fun writing

It's been a while since I've posted anything about what is going on in the 6th grade class in Utah that I'm visiting via Internet (Smartboards and Google Talk). The last writing we really did was when I posted some of the pictures from the Harris Burdick Mysteries and tried to get some of you to participate by writing a start based on the lesson for the time. I had a few of you respond. So for December, the writing projects are as follows:

1) Write a letter to Santa - You are to write a letter to Santa Claus explaining what you want for Christmas and why you should get it. Remember to use good examples and reasons. Remember our 6-Traits lessons.

Requirements:
Length: 1 page Story board: Yes Rough Draft: Yes Editing Kit: Yes

2) Acrostic poems: You are to write 3 ACROSTIC POEMS using any of the words below:
Winter, Christmas, Snowflake, Snowman, Santa Clause, December, Holiday, Sharing, Fireplace, Sledding. You MUST choose from these words. Circle your three choices. The words you use to create the poems must be words or sentences that represent your thoughts and feeling about that word. Don’t just use a word because it fills the space!! Also illustrate each poem to match the words.

Requirements:
Length: 1 page each Story board: No Rough Draft: Yes Editing Kit: Yes

3) Short essay: You are to choose 1 of the following options and do it for your 3rd project. Write about your favorite family traditions OR your favorite Christmas memory. Remember you are to choose only one.

Requirements:
Length: 1 1/2 pages Story board: Yes Rough Draft: Yes Editing Kit: Yes


Now I don't much about writing poetry and don't know about storyboards for such short projects. So I've written my letter and one acrostic poem. For your viewing pleasure, here they are:

Snowflake (because I am partial to them in the winter - they are unique just like everyone in the world is)

Soft like a flower petal
Neatly falling
Over the
World
Falling from the sky
Landing in wet patterns
Across the still earth
Knowing that you will blanket the ground
Ever quiet the Snowflake


My letter is rather lengthy - was a page and a half single spaced but Mr. Hughes said it was okay to be longer than the 1 page he has on the project:

December 9, 2008




Dear Santa,

It's been a long time, over thirty-five years, since I've written a letter to you asking for anything. Believe me when I say it isn't because I stopped believing in you but it has more to do with lack of wanting anything. I have my family and semi-good health and a vehicle to get me from point A to point B, so I really haven't had anything I could really ask for. This year is different. I've had a pretty good year and I think I have been a good girl but the end is drawing near and I do have some needs. I am really not asking that you visit me but more my friends and family. So here is my list for them:

For my oldest child, Jonathan, I ask that you put a job in his hands, one that is fitting for his talents. He is frustrated having no funds to do the things he really wants to do. So bring him a good job.

For my other two children, Hailie and Benjamin, give them the wisdom to continue doing well in school and to know right from wrong as they grow to adulthood and start making it on their own.

For my friend Batya, I ask that she get a break in getting her business started and that she have an abundance of clients that she is never wanting anything. I also ask that something be done about her neighbor who is bound and determined to run her from her home. Please make him an offer he can't refuse, maybe a new housing area to live in or a change of heart. (From what I've heard the man is warped and needs a good whipping, so I guess he really gets the stocking full of coal this year.)

For my friend Jane, please bring her some joy. She's had such trials and tribulations this year that she really could use something good. Maybe an offer on one of her novels.

For my publisher Vivian, please bring her income to not have to worry about possibly shutting down the business. I don't think she realizes how the company will start turning a profit but it needs to be sooner rather than later. Her health is failing her and she is struggling. I am trying hard to stay on top of things because I am selfish, I have a large contract and I want to see her succeed, not only for me but for herself as well. I'd like to see every author she has contracted do well in their own rights (doing well is so subjective). I hope that all her illustrator needs are met and that she can get all the upcoming books out without too many problems. I know it's a business but she needs to be enjoying herself and right now, she is frustrated and talking of throwing it all away. I really don't want to be tossed in the trash. So send her something to keep her from losing it and to help give her a positive outlook on things.

For my friend Mr. Hughes, bring him a new laptop so we can continue having our virtual class visits. For his class of students, please bring them some books and good cheer, time with their family and lots of new ideas for future writing projects.

For my adopted children, I wish for them to always have a hug available when they need it. I wish for them to just have a fun holiday season. Their needs are all so different, I can't even fathom individual gifts for them.

For me, I would like a few things but I'll understand if you can't bring them. I'd like enough money in my checking account to live comfortably and be able to help the kids with college if they decide to attend. I'd like either a house that is ready to live in or a redo on this house with a bigger bathroom, a laundry room that is separate from the kitchen area, and storage spaces, closets or whatever. I'd also like an actual room for my bedroom and a room for my office. That way the kids can watch TV without disturbing me while I'm writing or working. I'm in dire need of a new vehicle, a mini van preferably. I also would like to see my geography series really take off and be in fourth through sixth grade classes around the country. I can hope for some awards on the first book but if nothing comes of that, I'm okay with it. I'll keep trying for those.

So you see, Santa, I'm not asking for too much this year, just hoping for a small break for lots of people. I wish for my friends and family a joyous and peaceful holiday and that all their dreams and wishes do come true.

Yours truly,



Elysabeth Eldering
Author of the JGDS 50-state, mystery, trivia series


Hope you enjoy and maybe some of you will write a poem or a letter or even your favorite memory. Go on, I dare you to post your writings - E :)