Afghan update (should be last one)

For all intents and purposes, the red/white/blue afghan is completed save the border. I have four rows (two white and two blue) left to do but each row is taking me upwards of 2 hours to complete since I'm double crocheting in every stitch around the squares (on the open granny squares, two double crochets go into the spaces and then a double crochet everywhere else; the corners get one double crochet, a chain and a second double crochet (closing up the holes a bit)). I've got the tickets, receipt books and everything but pictures of the afghan ready to go. My next posting on the afghan will be the finished project's pictures. As large as it has turned out, I'm trying to figure out the best way to take pictures to get full view of the afghan's size and pattern (the alternating open/solid squares and the red/white/blue alternating colors), so once all that is figured out, then pictures will be posted.

I've decided that in addition to purchasing chances for the afghan that for every book purchase either through the website or in-person, the purchaser will receive one chance with additional chances available for purchase. You can find the link to purchase chances on both websites, the JGDS one and Ms. Elysabeth's other writing site under the events link.

Good luck to everyone who enters to win the afghan. See you all in the postings - Mrs. E & the JGDS :)

Series update

I've been thinking of some ideas to make my stories more fun and interesting for the kids. With this technological age, I've felt that the stories are flat and are not really getting the participation from the readers as I had envisoned. So I'm talking with Heather and thinking we will go a different route for future books, so right now, new stories are on hold. I will keep you updated when I decide what route I'm going with the stories and changes as they happen. Until then, just keep reading and if you have any ideas to share that would make the series more fun for kids to read or how to incorporate the stories in your classroom, please don't hesitate to leave me a message or you can send me an email to eeldering (at) gmail (dot) com - thanks - Ma America :)

Afghan update

I've had all the squares for the rows sewn together for a whlie now and had two rows sewn together and another two row section started; well, this evening I got those two rows together. I have one more section of two rows to sew together and then to put the sections together. Add a border of red, white and blue all around and then it will be completed. I'm ready to post pictures of the completed afghan but am afraid it won't look good doing the whole thing - but I'll see what I can do to get some pictures posted here soon.

Don't forget this is a raffle - one chance = $1.50; ten chances = $12 and with any state book purchase you get a chance. If you need to find the pay buttons for the chances, you can find them on the events pages of either the JGDS website or on Ms. Elysabeth's website. Drawing to be held December 1 with afghan mailed out around December 7th.

Good luck to all who enter - Ma America :)

Writers On The Move: Interactive eBooks: The Next Generation of Childre...

What an interesting article. Heather, if you are reading my blog we need to talk about the possibility of going interactive "app" for my state stories - lol. I know I've been trying to think of a way to make the stories more interesting and this has come at the appropriate time.

What do you all think? Would you be willing to purchase my state stories if they were "interactive" apps or ebooks for devices instead of print copies?

If you think this is a good idea, please leave a comment here and let me know what kind of things you would like to see in interactive state stories keeping with the theme that the game is still the primary character and giving the kids the "clues" for them to guess the state. I think this may be the next wave of state books instead of print books. I'll see what Heather has to say and what we can come up with, but with her in school and all, we may not have time to dedicate getting interactive books out as opposed to print books. I wish I had a device to download the book from this article so I could really get a feel for how it works and if this would be a better fit for my state stories or not - anyway, ya'll let me know what you think - and stop over on Writers on the Move and leave a comment for Kevin - Ma America & the JGDS (Mrs. E :))


Writers On The Move: Interactive eBooks: The Next Generation of Childre...: During the past few months, I have been forsaking many of my writing related activities to explore the possible future of children’s books. ...

Afghan raffle tickets

Ms. Elysabeth was at the grocery store (Bargains in another small town from where she lives) this morning and was walking up the aisle that holds all the nonfood junk stuff. Wandering the aisle on the top shelf there sat some packs of tickets. The rolls are not as big as the ones seen at Staples for like $10 or $15 but for $2.99 for a couple of hundred tickets, she picked up three rolls. So now, we have tickets for the afghan drawing. To purchase tickets, drop by Ms. Elysabeth's website or to the JGDS website. They are only $1.50 each or 10 chances for $12. - see you in the postings - JGDS

Update

I've not posted here in a while so thought I'd let everyone know we are still alive and doing well. More state stories coming soon.

The red, white and blue afghan is almost completed (two rows are actually sewn together, four left to go plus the border). I have taken some pictures but haven't had a chance to post them yet.

I have to have it completed by the 17th since my first event is the 18th and I hope to do well at the Geofest, especially since I can now take credit cards at my events.

Not much going on with book sales so far (and that's all around - Ma America's short stories and YA novel or any of the JGDS series). Hopefully this will pick up soon.

More when there is news to post or at least the pictures of the afghan. Don't forget to check out the events page on the JGDS website for ways to purchase your chances for the drawing for the afghan. See you all in the postings - Ma America & the JGDS