* Guest Blogger Today
"Working in the news industry, I see all sorts of strange stories come through the wire.
"I have to say 'Moose Brings Down Helicopter' is one of the stranger tales. Brings images of Godzilla to mind. The moose had been tranquilized and in its delirium, charged at the rotor. The helicopter had to land and unfortunately, the moose had to be shot due to injuries. If someone had been filming, it would have become 'When Animals Attack' video footage.
"Obesity surgeries in teenagers caught my eye. That's just really sad. As is the story about rats chewing on the baby or the toddlers taught to smoke pot. What sick person would teach a child to smoke pot? Makes me so thankful I go home to a happy, loving and normal family every night!
"Now if you will excuse me - a story just came in about Elvis Presley voting in a New Guinea election!"
- James Sheppard, Junior Editor, Orlando Sentinel
Monday, March 05, 2007
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Pizza Hut's Book It Program and Other Reading Incentives
There's an article on Cnn.com today about Pizza Hut's Book It program, which has been around for over twenty years.
Those against cite rewarding reading with fattening food and using the program to get more consumers in the restuarant. In light of how many youngsters are fat these days and eat unhealthy, I have to agree with that part.
And while dangling a carrot to get kids to read, rather than instilling the desire to read as a reward in of itself, is not the best way to promote literacy, it's been done for years. As a grade schooler, our teachers had reward programs for reading. I clearly remember one where the teacher gave a free small book for every ten books the student read. (I got a lot of free books, as I loved to read!)
There's other programs I question, too, like the Advanced Reader Program. A book must be on the list or it does not count, and there are so many not on the list! Many great books are lost this way if they are not nominated by enough people for the list. I think making the list all-inclusive would be better and give the students a wider selection.
Then again, I am just an author - what do I know?
Those against cite rewarding reading with fattening food and using the program to get more consumers in the restuarant. In light of how many youngsters are fat these days and eat unhealthy, I have to agree with that part.
And while dangling a carrot to get kids to read, rather than instilling the desire to read as a reward in of itself, is not the best way to promote literacy, it's been done for years. As a grade schooler, our teachers had reward programs for reading. I clearly remember one where the teacher gave a free small book for every ten books the student read. (I got a lot of free books, as I loved to read!)
There's other programs I question, too, like the Advanced Reader Program. A book must be on the list or it does not count, and there are so many not on the list! Many great books are lost this way if they are not nominated by enough people for the list. I think making the list all-inclusive would be better and give the students a wider selection.
Then again, I am just an author - what do I know?
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Bookmarks & Jacket Cover
Proud to announce the final jacket cover for Book IV has been approved and into production:
And the bookmarks have gone to the printers as well!
Getting closer every day ...
Thanks to all of my wonderful fans for making the dream of a fourth book become real!!!
And the bookmarks have gone to the printers as well!
Getting closer every day ...
Thanks to all of my wonderful fans for making the dream of a fourth book become real!!!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Stephen Hawking & Zero Gravity Corp.
Guest Blogger Today!
"I just read where scientist Stephen Hawking will get a chance to go weightless on April 26.
"I had heard about the "Vommit Comet", but did not realize companies like Zero Gravity Corp. were offering such rides to the public! It's almost $3800 to go up in the modified Boeing 727 for about twenty-five seconds of weightlessness. That's about $150 a second to feel as if you're going to hurl!
"When's the last time you paid that kind of money to toss your tacos?
"And I wonder if I can talk Matt into going?"
- Sarah Gardner, wife of Broncos wide receiver, Matt Gardner
"I just read where scientist Stephen Hawking will get a chance to go weightless on April 26.
"I had heard about the "Vommit Comet", but did not realize companies like Zero Gravity Corp. were offering such rides to the public! It's almost $3800 to go up in the modified Boeing 727 for about twenty-five seconds of weightlessness. That's about $150 a second to feel as if you're going to hurl!
"When's the last time you paid that kind of money to toss your tacos?
"And I wonder if I can talk Matt into going?"
- Sarah Gardner, wife of Broncos wide receiver, Matt Gardner
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