Life is wonderful!: 3/4/07

Friday, March 9, 2007

Montessori School Visit

Michele and I had our first 'public' debut today! We went to visit a school that one of our friends works in, to go and read the books, and draw pictures for loads of children - we had a wonderful time, and had lots of fun too! It was lovely to see the reaction of the children as the book was read to them, they were totally engrossed, and so excited all at the same time. We had a truly wonderful morning with them and their teachers. Michele showed the children how to draw some animals, using a very large pad and crayons - I was fascinated myself, just watching her!

We would both like to say a 'huge' thank you to the Montessori School for letting us come in today, to share our books with them, and for Cheri for inviting us - Thank You!

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

What's Under My Bed?

Well, here we go! Michele and I are getting geared up for this new book to be released in May this year, we have found a new publisher, and are very excited with this new venture. This book is going to have a completely 'different' look about it, and hopefully the change will attract readers. 'What's Under My Bed?', will be a book for 4-8 year olds (my teenager says so!)

The other books are selling well, with both books on Amazon.com, Borders.com and Barnes and Noble.com, and 'draw me a picture' only on Amazon.co.uk - Thank you to everyone for their support, and well wishes for both the books, and the wonderful comments that we've had from all of you.

Light up someone's life!

If there was ever a time that people needed to feel loved, I think this is it. There are so many things that are happening all around us in the world today, that we almost don’t seem to have enough love for ourselves (in a good way), let alone anyone else. All around us people need love – husbands, wives, children, extended family, neighbors, people we don’t even know, that we pass each and every day – wanting to be accepted, loved, even just acknowledged. Is there enough to go around? Will it take up even more of my time to give a little of me to someone else? Do I have any more of me to give? So many questions, and so little time seemingly to answer any of them! Well, the way I look at it is like this. Giving of myself enriches my life, makes life worth living, as I see it anyway. Giving a smile to someone as they hold open a door for me, saying ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ is really not such a hard thing to do, and it certainly doesn’t take any more than a second to acknowledge their kindness. I certainly know how I feel when I’m having a bad day, and someone smiles at me, notices me, makes me feel important – don’t we all want to feel like that sometimes? So, Yes! There is plenty of love to go around, and no, it won’t take up any of my time to bring a smile to someone else’s face, to help someone feel loved and appreciated. By giving of myself, it builds me, makes me want to give more, helps me have more of me to give! There is plenty of gloom and doom to last a lifetime – but I have a choice, I can let it get to me, or I can change the way I look at life, SO - I choose to be happy, I choose to be upbeat about life – no matter male or female, color of skin their in, rich or poor, size or shape – everyone has the right to be and feel loved, needed, wanted and appreciated. So, I am going to do my bit each and every day – so, hope to see you soon!

Isle of Arran - Breath-taking!

Favourite Movies & Books

Okay here are some of the books or movies I can think of right now that I like/love, so I will probably be adding more to this list as time goes on! Twister; Pride and Prejudice; The Song of Ruth; Monsters Inc; Fantastic Mr Fox; The Chronicles of Narnia; Prelude to Glory; The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank; The Work and the Glory; Flushed Away; The Sophie Books by Dick King Smith; Winnie-the-Pooh Books; Helen Steiner Rice Books of Poetry; Jonathon Livingston Seagull; Independence Day; Matilda - (book and film); Roald Dahl childrens books; Guess How Much I Love You; Jan Karon - The Mitford Book Series; Holes;

Maple Grove/Osseo Press Release

What Would You Be?Have you ever thought that you would like to be something different - what would you be if you could? Or are you happy being just the way you are?In her first children's book, Maple Grove resident and author Lesley Macmillan poses the question to young readers along with vivid watercolor illustrations by Maple Grove resident and illustrator Michele Holcomb.The book, What Would You Be?, was just published and has recently become available online and in several local bookstores."Writing wasn't the problem, it was deciding on whether or not to make it into a book, having the courage to do that," said Macmillan. "Once I knew what I wanted, Michele was brilliant with her own thing."Macmillan indicated that once she decided to proceed with the children's book, it took awhile to find a publisher that matched her vision."It takes awhile to find one that works with what you want," she said. "It has been an amazing feeling to know that I could do something with my work and someone whom could read my mind illustrating it."Macmillan indicated that she wrote her first poem at the age of 12, but didn't continue to write again until she was about 30 years old. The first book of poetry she published, From My Heart to Yours, was a combination of three to four years of writing."Everytime I write, it ends up like poetry," she said. "I guess I am more inclined that way. It doesn't always have to rhyme either. It is just the way I write. I am quite visual - I can see what I'm writing. Just the way that you paint a house with different colors on walls, I just see it that way."Macmillan, born in England, is married and has five children. She indicated that her children helped review her current book."They love it," she said. "On the second day, Kiera was paraphrasing it word for word. Children love to rhyme things, they certainly learn more. And, they learn with patterns as well."For illustrator Holcomb, whom is married with four children, it is also her first venture with a children's book. The primarily self-taught artist, Holcomb used watercolor for the accompanying pictures for What Would You Be?"It really fit with the book," said Macmillan.The feedback they have received since the book was released in fall 2006 has been very positive."Everybody has been really positive and commented that there hasn't been another book like it out there right now," said Macmillan.Despite some surprises with their first draft of the book and a lengthy process, the Maple Grove writer and illustrator are teaming up again for another book to be released next year called "What's Under My Bed?""We've learned so much and knowing what we wanted as an end result, it was worth it," said Macmillan."What Would You Be?" can be found on www.amazon.com as well as at Borders and Barnes and Noble or Macmillan's website at www.writermummy.blogspot.com."One friend commented that she loved reading the book to her children because she felt like there was a lot of love in the book." said Holcomb.

Friday, March 9, 2007

Montessori School Visit

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

What's Under My Bed?

Life is wonderful!

Food Storage

Me and my Best Friend!

Light up someone's life!

Isle of Arran - Breath-taking!

Isle of Arran, Scotland (Lochranza)

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Words to Remember

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Sneak Peak..!

What's Under My Bed?

Finally made it!

Favourite Movies & Books

Love to Write

Michele and I

Maple Grove/Osseo Press Release

Lifevest Publishing Inc

My First Childrens Book

Pictures by children

All Together

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