Marian Keen Book Signing!

Join celebrated North Shore children’s author Marian Keen at
Tres Bon Beauty Salon
13-728 West 14th Street
North Vancouver
Saturday November 5th, 7:00-9:00 pm.

Marian will be signing copies of Lexi and Hippocrates find trouble at the Olympics and previewing her next book Abigail Skunk’s Lessons for her Kits. Get your holiday shopping off to a literary start! http://megsbooks.wordpress.com/

This book signing event is part of the Diamond Dolls women’s networking event. $20 admission includes refreshments and light meal.

A Skunk and Serendipity

Serendipity always lends a hand and for Abigail Skunk there was certainly serendipity.

First there was a newspaper item saying the skunk population in our neighbourhood was exploding. Next there was an article about how schools were fostering good manners in children. Next, my granddaughter’s car was sprayed by a black and white (skunk). Then my aunt told me about a skunk who entered the house, walked all around on a little tour touching nothing, eating nothing, inflicting no damage. And then, curiosity satisfied, left as politely as it entered.

But then in September 2010, the school requested that if possible could the parents donate a children’s book to their school library on the occasion of their child’s birthday during the school year. A copy of their curriculum indicated that manners were to be covered.

Two plus two equals “click”! went my brain and I suggested that we produce our own book. By October, skunks were researched and by November the story was written. There followed editing, polishing, test runs, storyboards and Christmas.

Finally, publishing the book.

But, we did it! And I actually read it to the class!

Imagine that!

Meg

Animal Stories

When I was a child I devoured the series of animal stories by Thornton W. Burgess. Some I received as gifts. Others I bought with saved coins and I borrowed some from the library. I have one left.

Someday I would write stories about animals too. I noted that Mr. Burgess did not write about exotic animals such as elephants and giraffes but about animals that he observed around his local area. One charming attribute of his stories is that though he focused on one animal’s story, the other animals have small parts in it which brings about a charming cohesiveness.

Now I have my series underway. So far, I have written about a squirrel, a bear (3 stories), a crow, a rabbit, and a skunk. I am hoping to include an owl, a raccoon, a coyote, a deer, a seagull, and perhaps a hummingbird. So I am about halfway.

Each animal is partly inspired by newspaper articles, and anecdotes but I also research the animals in order to achieve an authentic ‘tail’!

One of these stories I have published – Abigail Skunk’s Lessons for her Kits.

Imagine that!

Meg

Easing the stress of going back to school

Children have stresses too. Summer is usually stress-free, but then, as August passes the mid-way point, there are the “first day of school jitters.”

Children usually reflect parental attitudes. Anxiety or enthusiasm is equally infectious. A new situation is best met with preparation so devote some of the last days of summer vacation to the requirements for school:

Shopping for school supplies and clothing

• Kids always like new things. For school supplies give them color choices, one special item, and something new to wear that they love. This builds a child’s self-esteem and gives confidence to face the new situation.
• Regarding clothes, go with your child’s taste – whether it be bright colors, or denim, or funky – within the limits of your budget.
• At the arts and crafts store there are inexpensive t-shirts that allow sew-ons or glue-ons or tie-dye so your child can create his or her style.
• If offered some hand-me-downs, going through them with your child can be an adventure. There may be some items your child has always admired or some great basics – like plain shirts and jeans, freeing up your budget for more special items.

For more back to school tips - keep reading! http://www.stresstonics.com/back-to-school.html

Why THEIR Way?

Imagine their problems in trying to help those who won’t help themselves.

A magazine article for writers spelled out hundreds of formatting requirements for submissions to agents or publishers. I read the advice with painstaking patience, but when I had finished reading, I had to think. It seemed so arrogant and demanding of them to require such detailed adherence to their formats and to make the threat that not conforming earns your manuscript the circular file. I had to smother my resentment. Any writer is naturally creative, so it’s akin to wearing handcuffs.

I thought again. Fortunately, my creative nature allows me to walk in their shoes — that little exercise made clear the benefit I could receive.

I picture the agent or editor sitting in the office sipping on a morning coffee when the secretary enters with one thousand submissions for the day. (I can exaggerate. I’m a writer. I’m sure they do.)  

1. The first submission has a cover letter running five pages giving the author’s history including her experience with a nasty divorce.
2. The second manuscript is printed single spaced with light blue ink on colored paper. Pretty and unreadable.
3. The third is printed in columns.
4. The fourth has the required three chapters but each is stapled firmly and one is covered with coffee stains.

PLUNK!  THUD!  BANG!  THUMP! Into the wastebasket they go until she sees one respectively addressed to her, presented in her required format, clean and easy to read. She sips her coffee and settles to work.

I want my “audience” to pay me that kind of attention, so I’ll follow all the rules I can, but—-If I miss one rule, please know I tried to abide, so please take my side and don’t crush my pride.

At least read it.

Children’s Book Market

Write a children’s story if you have the imagination, but submit it only if you have courage and tenacity.

The children’s book market is so competitive today that if you investigate the situation you can’t help but be intimidated. A book for children is short compared to an adult novel. The plot is simpler. The descriptions are conveyed by pictures. So how hard can it be to write a children’s story? It’s not hard; it’s dead easy especially if you have a fertile imagination. Writing stories is not the problem. It’s getting them published that pulverizes your soul.

Just read “It’s a Bunny-Eat-Bunny World”, by Olga Litowinsky, to understand the problem. Her book would reduce the thousands of would-be children’s authors to a mere trickle if they all had the courage to read the whole book. I read it when it first appeared and then dropped it into my slush pile fast. However I kept writing because I just couldn’t quit.

Now I’ve read it again. I recommend it to any writer who wants to know the true picture of the publishing business. Now it’s made me determined. Now I have people urging me to get my work published. Now I must try again. Yes, I’ll make mistakes. So what? I only need one publisher. Wish me luck—-NOW.

Dr Lister meets Lexi

Historical characters are easier to relate to if they are introduced in a story form.

A teacher commented that my story of Lexi (the cat narrator) and Hippocrates was an enjoyable introduction of history for her class. I’m sure those grade 4 students will remember Hippocrates as the father of medicine when they eventually study the Ancient Greeks.

I have now written the Dr. Joseph Lister story with the same idea of introducing an historical hero of the medical world. As the man who defeated gangrene, his story will inspire children to pay attention and use information and incidentally, to wash their hands without grumbling.

It’s my job to have fun!

From the moment I embraced the skill of talking I became a teacher. My first pupils were ideal. Because they were dolls, they didn’t fidget or squirm, chew gum, throw spitballs or talk back. Occasionally one fell off a chair but I didn’t send them to the nurse I just replaced them on the chair and kept teaching.

In grade school, Grade Three, I became a tutor teaching boys to learn to read. In high school I tutored again teaching grammar.

Eventually I became a real teacher with my degree in education, but then family came along, so I taught my own.

And finally I found writing to be a perfect vehicle for teaching children one of the hardest subjects (and one I hated in school) – History!

Thus the Alexander Catts’ I and II came into being. They and their ‘meowmoirs’ help me show children “what it was like when” and the most famous people were just human beings who dealt with life like we do.

Alex (Alexander Catt I) met Ramses, Leonardo da Vinci, Columbus, Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sam Steele, Queen Victoria, Eisenhower and Emily Carr, to name a few.

So far Lexi (Alexander Catt II) has met Ramses, Hippocrates and now Sir J. Lister. The goal is to make some of the highlights of the history of medicine not only understandable but interesting and hopefully entertaining.

The challenge is to make the gruesome palatable because the subject matter is often gross and we don’t want children to cry, or worse, throw up or develop fears about going to the doctor.

Even the study of health in Grade Four did that to me as a child and I write at the Grade Four level so I understand.

Looking back at the nineteenth century the chances of surviving childbirth, a broken leg, or simple operations were slim. Lister changed that by keeping his head and persevering against popular opinion by providing proof. He was a cool hero.

And my job is to depict all that – Fun!

Alex and Lexi – two new ‘purrsonalities’

Two new “purrsonalities” in  the world of children’s literature are Alex (Alexander Catt) and Lexi (Alexander Catt II). Alex, a black and white short-haired cat was born in a temple in ancient Egypt during Ramses II reign as pharaoh. He was a polite and dignified cat who lived each of his past eight lives to the fullest that his stomach could manage. Ever hungry, he sought out the best chefs of the day who usually cooked for discriminating people and thus Alex met and stayed with royalty, artists, inventors, explorers and the like.

Sometimes, his appetite for food led him into adventures and misadventures. He tried his best to avoid trouble, which meant avoiding dogs, water and the conflict of war, all of which he hated. His ‘meowmoirs’ cover ancient Egypt, ancient China, medieval times, the Renaissance, the Elizabethan Era, the revolutionary times, the Victorian Era, and the World War days of the twentieth century.  

Lexi, Alex’s son, was also a short-haired black and white cat but there the similarity ends because Lexi loves trouble and attracts it. As a safeguard, he usually lives with doctors, but relies on the twitch in his tail to warn him of trouble brewing. Pompous and a little abrasive Lexi irritates his adversaries, but usually he finishes his adventures by acquiring new and unlikely friends. Like his father, Lexi tries to take credit for inventions and new ideas that he witnesses by claiming that he inspired them. This kitty quirk is forgivable because he tells such a p(L)awsible “tail” and he’s such a lovable rascal.

Follow the ‘tails’ of both cats as they recall their historical adventures in their ‘meowmoirs’ for children of all ages.

How I wrote Hippocrates

Let me tell you a little history. I hated studying history in school. I couldn’t remember all those dates and wars were exasperatingly stupid to me. Now I write about history for children and I love doing it. How did that happen?

It started when I took a brief intro course on the use of a computer. Overnight I started writing a series of stories that covered history from ancient times to the mid twentieth century through the eyes of my character Alexander Catt. What fun!

Do you believe in serendipity? My good friend and son-in-law suggested a new series on the history of medicine. From the previous research I knew it would have to begin with ancient Egypt. SHAZAM! I was invited to a museum exhibit on ancient Egypt and there in the gift shop was a book on Medicine in Ancient Egypt! The story wrote itself.

Did you know that the symbol for drugstores came from ancient Egypt?

I was reading a biography of Hippocrates when (SHAZAM!) my daughter gave me a worn ragged old book on the ancient Olympics and the story “Lexi and Hippocrates Find Trouble at the Olympics” wrote itself.

Did you know that Niki was the goddess of victory?

Did you know that those ancient runners ran naked? Now that’s racy!

Did you know that Hippocrates taught medicine under a tree?

So, what’s next in my little history? I let serendipity guide me. Doctors are now required to view a program on washing hands before they renew their licenses to practice medicine. Incredible! Why? The answer begins with Lister. I can’t wait to write this one! Do you know if there is a book about the man?

So far all I know is that he took his new bride on a honeymoon to Europe to visit all the hospitals. Now there’s a story!