Wish you can escape the heat for a little bit?
How about some wintry adventures with a husky puppy named Birki? Here are videos of The Brave Little Puppy and The Puppy’s Wish, both read by kids. These books for young children were written by Lori Evert, with photographs by Per Breiehagen. Enjoy the cuteness!
Hi, writers out there!
Do you think you should make a map that features lands from your stories? Expect your readers to thank you for it, as they may appreciate a visual illustration of your world’s layout. It might ease the readability as they try to picture your story’s scenery. Even if you don’t write fantasy but write historical fiction, a map would also be beneficial, especially if readers may not be familiar with the country or state.
What does the process look like? The following link shows how author Krystine Kercher created her maps. Here, she illustrates what color schemes make the best maps for her worlds of Astarkand and Altesse. Colors that stand out yet are easy on the eyes.
This here is a map of Astarkand. To learn more about Kercher’s Legends of Astarkand, here’s an overall look at the series:
Did you know that today is when we remember today’s exterminators? That’s right; we should all remember the folks who work hard to control wild rats and other pests who would make our lives miserable.
The day also commemorates the famous Pied Piper story. Here’s a read-along by Emerald Game Cave of the famous fairy tale. Hopefully none of us will ruffle the feathers of this zany exterminator.
Middle grade author S.D. Smith has a sale on his Kindle books that you wouldn’t want to miss! Books include the Green Ember series, Tales of Old Natalia series, and the Green Ember Archer series.
Here’s a video intro of the Green Ember tales.
I myself have listened to the audiobook version of the first Green Ember book, so I do recommend it if you’re a fan of Redwall or any medieval-style adventure story.
Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key, which Smith co-wrote with his son, is marked down to 2.99. Here’s a peek at how the story came to be:
Hurry and get your copies! This sale ends after July 12.
Hi all! I hope you’ll have a blast watching the fireworks tonight (Notice the little pun I made.).
In honor of this holiday, here’s a book read by Happy Cultivated. It’s called Apple Pie 4th of July, written by Janet S. Wong and illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. This story shows that you can be traditional and nontraditional as you celebrate.
Still trying to find ways to have fun during the summer?
How about activities that expand the imagination, like creating make-believe worlds worthy to be found in stories?
Author Carmen White has ideas that would spark your child’s cleverness. You can find them on her website.
One fun activity she lists is designing a house with eleven rooms. You may only have one of each room (i.e. one bedroom, one kitchen, etc.). Otherwise, you can imagine anything you want. If I were to design my own house, it would look like this:
1 bedroom
1 kitchen
1 dining room
1 bathroom
1 living room
1 laundry room (Yes, I do need clean clothes.)
1 tool room/cleaning supply room (I’d have cleaning ladies and maintenance people to help me maintain my eleven rooms, so they would appreciate a room like this.)
1 office (I would decorate it so as to inspire me to sit down and write.)
1 room with an indoor racing track (I would take up running again, and my dogs may run with me, too.)
1 supply room for dog supplies (If you look at the next room listed, you’ll see why.)
1 room for my dogs (I would have all sorts of sensory activities, chew toys, and games for them so they’d never get bored.) The following video would be something like it (and maybe I’d add a fountain and dog-friendly plants for them to gnaw on):
Here’s the link to more of Carmen White’s creative prompts, including an out-of-this-world pet, a biography of a bug, and a zany plant. Enjoy!
How about a room of aquariums, all containing fish that float over lava?
A new book is released!
No, it isn’t written by me. This one is written by my writer pal Ted Atchley. I actually got to critique a manuscript of this sci-fi thriller.
Here’s the book’s official blurb:
An Elite Cybersecurity Analyst. A Desperate Rebellion’s Best Hope.
Brandon thought the assignment was just another standard security assessment. Wrong. As he peels back the layers of a deepening conspiracy, he discovers everything he thought he knew about his reality is a lie.
And he’s the only one who can save it.
Exiles from another reality see Brandon’s new knowledge as the key to victory over their tyrannical king and his immortal army. Pursued by both loyalists and rebels as he crosses the borders between realities, Brandon must protect his family, while figuring out who to trust.
Choosing well means rescuing his family, and saving both worlds, but choosing poorly will empower a malevolent evil to wipe out humanity.
Sounds exciting, huh? If you’re looking for a story rich in dangerous secrets, fast-paced action, and relationship tensions—and bird-like people in an alien world—look no further than The Key to Reality.
Stumped on what to get Dad for Father’s Day?
Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Magazine has a plethora of craft, dinner, and dessert ideas for the occasion. Follow the link here:
How about this for a gift idea? A barbecue kit! Clubhouse has both a recipe for barbecue seasoning and craft instructions to make a special apron.
A teen can make these, too. If he or she isn’t sure about making handprints for the barbecue grill’s flames, they can use a “fire” stencil and paint their own flames, like this one:
Are you on summer vacation yet?
If you don’t want your kids spending hours in front of the screen during the summer, there are many things you can do as a family. For starters, you can do science experiments at home!
K.A. Cummins has compiled a package of science experiments based on her children’s book Super Doople. The grade level is PreK through 4th, and it also contains coloring pages and activities like an “egg race” and an “egg-scape.”
Speaking of Super Doople, if you haven’t read my review of this whimsical story, you can read it on this link:
Want more coloring pages? Diginstall has an assortment of coloring and activity books to buy and download. The following pictures are some of the books available on their site.
They even have books for teens and adults, too.
Here’s the button that leads to the site. Have fun, you all!
Looking for another book for your young child? How about one that features a superhero?
Try Super Doople by K.A. Cummins. Not only does the main character become a superhero, he is a walking and talking…egg?
I wrote a review on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog, which you can read here:
K.A. Ramstad 
