An Update on Writing, Plus a YA Author

Hi, friends.

Today, I edited two hours’ worth of my Little Red Riding Hood story, and I’m happy with my progress so far. I had editing “sprints,” where I edited for an ex-amount of minutes, took a break, and then edited again. In a way, it’s like a HIIT workout.

My plan is to write the best draft possible; then I’ll share this with others for input. I strive to write this story so that it’s for both middle grade and YA. In other words, I want to be low-key in violence, but I also want to address the teen’s inner desire to fit in. And romance? I’m keeping it at the level of the main character having a crush, which is something both middle-graders and teens can relate to.

In light of young adult stories, check out M Liz Boyle interviewing YA author Christina Shaw. Christina shares her past experience as a high school teacher, as well as what she thinks good, God-glorifying YA should look like. Thanks for sharing, M Liz.

Note: Christina has published the middle grade book she mentioned in the interview. It’s called Flibbertigibbet, and it’s Book One of Big Family Adventures.

Author Christina Shaw Joins Me Today

What I Have Been Doing . . . And a Fairy Tale Retelling

Okay, everyone. It’s time to let you know how I’ve been progressing in my writing.

I pitched my Galdur Snow Dog book to a publisher, but sadly, my book and the publisher didn’t mash. So, I’ll keep my eyes open for another publishing opportunity.

In the meantime, something definite is happening. Another story? Yep, and it’s a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood!

I’m going to be featured in an anthology from Beyond the Bookery, and my novella-sized story will be friendly for teens and tweens. I think the following picture gives a cool ambience to my retelling, and I complement it with a list of things to expect. I’ll be adding more to the list as I edit and refine the story further.

  • Little Red Riding Hood Retelling
  • Dire Wolf Character
  • Young Teens
  • A Crush on a Prince (Who Can Fly!)
  • Talking Animals
  • Found Family

The anthology will be released March 2026. Keep following this blog as I share updates on my progress as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses of my tale.

Homeschooling Kindergarteners?

I know, summer isn’t over yet. But it’s good to be prepared, right?

One of the most vital things to learn in life is reading, and a big highlight of kindergarten is developing that skill.

Reading Head Start has tips on how to teach your kindergarteners how to read, and the following link is one of the articles they have.

Teach a Child to Read – 7 Easy Steps You Can Use

Do you use other methods of teaching children to appreciate words and stories? Feel free to share in the comments. *smile*

A Picture Game With Liu Bolin

Have you heard of Liu Bolin?

He’s a Chinese artist who’s the innovator behind a series of pictures where he’s the “hidden Mickey Mouse” in each one. He’s actually blended into the background, so you can see his shape only if you look closely. In a way, it’s like I Spy or Where’s Waldo?

Thank you, Rick Mallery, for sharing this on your blog. Now we all can have fun playing this picture game.

Okay, so the above Liu is easy to find, but the following link shows more challenging images.

Invisible Art – Liu Bolin

A Historic Dog Story (Thanks, Jeff Maxim)

Did you know there was a canine mascot at the Hoover Dam? It happened while the historic structure was being built.

I came across this story shared by fellow writer Jeff Maxim. The dog was a friendly companion to the construction crew at the dam. His life ended tragically, but he was loved by the construction crew so much, they took time to make a grave for him.

Thank you for sharing the story with us, Jeff.

A Dog’s Life

Reminiscing on Children’s Stories

What was your favorite picture book?

When I was little, I loved the book Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban. To this day, I have fond memories of my dad reading it to me. Another one I liked was In the Forest by Marie Hall Ets. See? Even as a little kid I loved adventures with animals.

The thing with picture books is that even if your children don’t know how to read yet, they can still appreciate the book by looking at the illustrations. I used to have the Big Golden Book version of Peter Pan, and I especially liked the pictures. As if that Disney movie hadn’t fed my obsession with Peter enough. 🙂

Author Lara Lee shares more titles that might add to your child’s TBR list. Or they might bring you memories of the stories you enjoyed. Take it away, Lara.

My Top 20 Favorite Books for Children 5 Years Old And Younger

Happy 4th…and Christmas in July!

Hi, all.

Happy Independence Day to all you Americans! Just be sure to stay safe around fireworks.

If you also observe Christmas in July, I wrote a book review on an adorable holiday picture book. It’s posted on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog, and if you love sled dogs, it’s the book for you.

Oh No! Reindeer Flu Book Review

And speaking of sled dogs, I’m still on the hunt for a publisher who would be interested in my “Galdur Snow Dog” book. It’s a middle grade fantasy about malamute-like dogs with magical traits, and they can talk to us humans. I’m actually going to pitch it to a publisher soon, so I’d appreciate your prayers that things will go according to God’s plan.

Map of Your Imaginary Planet?

Hi, all you writers out there.

If you’ve been following my blog for a long time, you may remember me posting the benefits of creating a map of your fantasy land. Benefits include helping your reader visually picture your land, thus easing their comprehension as they read. If you haven’t read it, you can click on the following link, where I feature author Krystine Kercher’s map (pictured below).

Why Make a Map?

Are you a sci-fi author? Author Joseph Ficor shows that you can create a map of your planet’s diversity of climates. It’s helpful for both you and your reader, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Check it out.

Project Love Hand Surface Map 1

To All You Dads Out There! (See Note)

NOTE: I wrote this post on the day of Father’s Day, but I’ve been a bad girl and neglected to select the “Sticky” feature. So, this post wasn’t featured on the top of the blog. Aaarrrgh!

I greatly apologize for this, and to all you dads, I still remember you. The following activity from Clubhouse Magazine will still be fun for your family to do together.

Don’t worry. I did not forget about Father’s Day, and neither has Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Magazine. They have a puzzle activity that kids can do with you dads. It involves finding names of Bible dads in pictures like this (image from the activity’s web page):

Interesting, huh? Check it out!

Bible Dads Puzzle

Tolkien Dramas and Girl Heroes with Lou Allen

Hi, all.

Does your teen prefer listening to stories over reading them? Or do they enjoy audio dramas?

Here’s the latest article/podcast episode by Lou Allen, aka Christian Faith and Fiction. Here she shares a few recommendations of Christian-friendly stories, including dramatized retellings of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

For those who still want physical books, she also mentions two:

A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter (a Regency-period fiction)

Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur (a Narnia-like fantasy)

I actually have my own copy of Arthur’s book (which I found at a library book sale of all places). I haven’t read it yet, but it sure looks intriguing.

Book reviews — Christian Fiction and Fantasy (Podcast E234)