TIME FLIES

Things have been busy in the barnyard. Hubby and I have been cutting a lot of wood, and we don't even burn wood. There are a lot of downed trees that need attention. But enough of that.

I visited several schools last fall and read Albert's Happy Thanksgiving and Cleveland the Green Camel to the classes.  I am gearing up for more classroom visits this spring.

Also in the works is another children's book. It is in the early stages, but I'll let you know when it is ready.

My photography is on display at the Republic Branch of the Greene County Library through the month of February. Hopefully folks will enjoy my work.

Silly Season

Thanksgiving is over and everyone is in high gear preparing for the Christmas season. It has been given many nicknames, but it is what people make it. I'm not a Scrooge and really enjoy Christmas, but not all the commercial nonsense that accompanies it. Can anyone say, "Black Friday?"  That is where I say, "Bah Humbug!"

Because of scheduling, hubby and I spent a peaceful Thanksgiving day alone. Family gatherings were on Saturday.  So on Thursday, I curled up with a good book.  If you haven't read "Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks" by K.C. McCrite, you are missing something great. The first book, "In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace," had me hooked.

As a writer, I read with a writer's eye. It has been a while since I read a book that was so well written, I got engrossed in the story.  If you need a terrific Christmas gift, I recommend either book.

By the way, I also have my children's books available. Don't forget Albert's Happy Thanksgiving and Cleveland the Green Camel.

My books are available on Amazon.com or through High Hill Press or you may contact little old me at brinkley.brenda1@gmail.com

Brenda's Barnyard Books

Albert's Happy Thanksgiving was my first children's book. It was published in 2010. After numerous rewrites, I entered the manuscript in a contest at Ozark Creative Writers and won an award. That spurred me on.     Albert has been very well received and it was my joy to introduce him to schoolchildren in the classrooms.  This spring, my second book, "Cleveland the Green Camel" came out.  Children love the little turkey and the crazy camel, but they really like the goofy old goat, Frank.  That is what a great illustrator can do.  Frank will have his own book, but it will be a little while.  I'm still working on it.  A goat as unique as Frank can't be rushed.   I will be at OCW October 6 - 8 and will have both books there. Stop by and take a look.

Autumn in the Ozarks

I love fall in the Ozarks. It is a wonderful time to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us. I also love to capture the color in photographs.
I spent the afternoon at school, signing books. What fun!  I really love introducing my characters to the kids.
My two children's books are Albert's Happy Thanksgiving and Cleveland the Green Camel.  Both would be a delightful addition to any child's bookshelf.  The kids are sure to fall in love with Albert the turkey, Frank the goat, Fluffy the hen, and Cleveland the camel.

Ozarks Mountaineer article

I am absolutely delighted with the article in the Ozarks Mountaineer.  Watching Daddy Pull is an article about my dad and his tractor, Lonesome George.  Yes, the tractor has a name.  The article also tells a little of the history of tractor pulling.
I hope you enjoy reading the story as much as I did writing it. 
The story was written as a contest entry for the Ozarks Creative Writers conference last fall. (2010)  Although it didn't win anything at the conference, I sent it to the Ozarks Mountaineer and the editor asked me to add a little of the history to it.
So never be discouraged if you don't win.  Your story might still be a winner.  This is not the first time my contest entries have gone on to be published, and I'm not through by a long shot.

A Day Off

I spent the day with my two youngest granddaughters. We went to Mansfield to see the home of Laura Ingals Wilder. It was a great day.
No matter how many motivational speakers I hear, a trip to her home is always encouraging. When the guide says she began writing her famous 'Little House' books at the age of sixty-five, I grab those words with hope in my heart.
To see how she wrote is humbling. No computer, not even a typewriter. She wrote on Big Chief tablets. And it worked. People around the world fell in love with her books long before there was a television show. Her books are wonderful and her life inspiring.
That is how I spent my day off. Now back at it, with renewed hope.

ASKING THE 'BIG' QUESTION

If you write non-fiction articles, chances are you interview people from time to time. There is one question that should never be forgotten. Yes, there is a universal question. You might wonder what question would fit any subject. Well, here goes.

"How do you spell your name?"

That's right. It is simple, but sometimes overlooked. We often take for granted the spelling of a common name, but we shouldn't. When a child is born, the parents want their precious baby to be unique. That leads to some very unusual ways to spell even the most common names.
Examples: John/Jon   Carol/Carole/Karole  Freddie/Freddy  Gary/Garry  Kathy/Cathy/Kathie   and the list goes on and on. Now just think of all the unusual names out there and the many ways to spell them.
 When a person sees his/her name in the newspaper or magazine, they want to see it spelled correctly.
That is my tip for today. It is not a small one, because every person you write about wants to see their name in print and they want to see it done right.