Keep On.

Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working. -- Source Unknown

Love Time Travel?

CLOCKWISE by Elle Strauss

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Casey Donovan, a fifteen-year-old teen with unmanageable curly hair, "the color of burnt toast", is anything but typical. Sure, she has a crush on Nate MacKenzie, the cute football MVP of her high school, but she also carries a secret - that only her BFF knows. That is, until she accidentally takes the one and only Nate with her to the 19th century. Goodbye, shoulder pads. Hello, history. Perhaps that unit on the Civil War will come in handy after all.

CLOCKWISE is a smart, engaging read, a sure hit for lovers of time travel or the occasional history buff. I immediately liked Casey, her awkwardness, and felt like she could be a close friend. Casey's story doesn't disappoint. It refreshingly lacks the overzealous angst common to some YA reads and packs in the values of honest friendships and family relationships with a heart-warming, twist-at-the-end punch. Elle Strauss is a writer to watch.

I highly recommend this warm tale.

Buy your e-book here.

View all my reviews

Thankful Thursday

The five year old.

Photography his own.

1. My state found its long lost moon rock. I will sleep much better now.

2. The smell of rain, sweet rain, a warm cup of coffee, a good book, and laundry caught up (for now).

3. My IRL crit group, really I could stop right there. But they kinda liked my new pages. (Whew.) Which may or may not be six degrees from item 1.

4. The suddenly witty five-year-old who admonished me as I sipped a smoothie in the car this morning: Mom, I think drinking and driving is a bad idea.

5. The husband, who packed the kids lunches last night and put them to bed, so I could have dessert out with friends. I think this should be a weekly occurrence.

Name one thing you're thankful for today. I'd love to know!

Xoxo,

Kristin

10 Years

I don't pretend to understand how New Yorkers felt, or those with loved ones there on that day.

All I know was my life, my world. Balancing my first born, then seven months, on my hip, tears rolling off my face. I stood in my empty town house, splat middle of Iowa, hours away from closest family, and watched the towers fall. Helpless, stunned, heart-broken for my fellow Americans. Yet never more thankful to be in the middle of nowhere with my babe.

I give you Meg Cabot's Post on 9-11-01. Much closer. Mere blocks. She says it with such grace and hope.

Worth making it to the end.

*Swoon*

I just found a link to Lauren Child's kitchen. I adore the bright colors.

Can someone click over and tell me if that is indeed a piano painted white?

If you could re-do your house, whose art would you look to for inspiration?

Or would you leave it as is?

New Can't Miss Podcast

Wordplay Podcast

Hosted by MG/ YA authors Nathan Bransford, James Dashner, and J. Scott Savage and geared toward readers and writers. To be posted every Monday morning.

Every 3rd Monday, there will be a Kids Only podcast, aimed for those 8-12 years with their parents, teachers etc.

Can't wait.