Monday, January 31, 2011

WHEN I GROW UP by 'Weird Al' Yankovic

It's not often that I feature picture books here, but I really should do it more often given my lifelong love affair with them!

I pre-ordered Weird Al's first picture book, WHEN I GROW UP, back in December when I wished I could get it for my Weird-Al-fan husband for Christmas, but ALAS! It didn't come out until today! I'd all but forgotten about it, so when a brown package arrived in the mail today, I was confused. Then I was delighted.

We all know Al Yankovic has a gift for rhyme. Who else could come up with...

"How come you're always such a fussy young man
Don't want no Captain Crunch, don't want no Raisin Bran
Well, don't you know that other kids are starving in Japan
So eat it, just eat it" -Sung to the tune of Beat It (lyrics here)

You'll be entertained by the bizarre career options he sets out in WHEN I GROW UP. The illustrations are adorable, done by Wes Hargis.

I love the theme that kids may change their minds about what they want to be several times, and that's okay. In fact, adults may hold several different jobs in vastly different careers, and that's okay, too. Al Yankovic is the perfect person to have written this book, as his bio on the back flap explains:

Known for more than thirty years as America's premier satirist of popular music and culture, "Weird Al" Yankovic has had almost as many careers as Billy can dream of. Advised by his father to do whatever made him happy, he has accordingly been a comedian, singer/songwriter, music producer, actor, director, and writer--often all at the same time. Mr. Yankovic has won three Grammy Awards and has sold more comedy recordings than anyone else in history.

If you'd like a signed copy, check out his book tour dates at his web site.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Special Guest: Michelle McLean of Homework Helpers: Essays & Term Papers

It is my great pleasure today to introduce versatile author Michelle McLean as my guest! I met Michelle when she joined Operation Awesome as my critique partner and fellow bloggista. I've been constantly impressed by her writing and her spot-on critiques ever since. 


This month we're celebrating the release of her non-fiction debut, Homework Helpers: Essays & Term Papers! It's an amazing resource I'll use to teach my own kids essay when the time comes. For now, it sits patiently on my shelf awaiting Michelle's fiction debut. If you've had the good luck to read her work, you'll know why I'm expecting that to come sooner rather than later. As a pro in both fiction and non-fiction, Michelle is specially equipped to help us fiction-only writers look at story in a whole new way. 


Take it away, Michelle!  






Non-fiction and Fiction seem like two completely separate worlds. But there are a lot of things that apply for both genres. Whether you are writing non-fiction or fiction, there is one thing you should always ask yourself....what's your point?

No matter what you are writing, you should have some sort of goal in mind - what are you really trying to get across to your reader? For non-fiction, most narrative essays will have some sort of moral to the story, some reason for telling the tale. And for non-fiction works such as term papers and other types of essays, there is always a thesis, the main point to the paper. When choosing arguments, evidence, and examples for your project, keep your main point in mind...make sure everything you are writing supports that point.

For fiction, what is the main point of your story? What are you leading up to? When writing your scenes, make sure they are leading somewhere...there shouldn't be anything in your story unless there is a reason for it to be there. It needs to move the plot along, there needs to be a reason you are spending time depicting what you are depicting.

Just remember your point :)


Michelle McLean is a writer and the Chief Editorial Consultant for PixelMags, LLC. In addition to her non-fiction work, Michelle writes YA historical novels and other children’s books. If she's not editing, reading or chasing her kids, she can usually be found in a quiet corner working on her next book.

Keep tabs on her here:


Michelle's blog (highly recommended are Tip Tuesdays/Thursdays and Friday Funnies!)







Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers is a fun, user-friendly book that guides the reader, step by step, through writing a dozen different types of essays, including the dreaded SAT essay. Using straightforward, plain English, this book shows the reader exactly what they need to do, from start to finish, and includes rough draft, edited, and final draft versions of every type of essay discussed. This book also provides chapters that include tips and instruction on researching, proofreading, and citations.

Get the book here:



Amazon

Only 3 more blog tour days left to gain more entries into the Grand Prize Giveaway!! Comment on these posts to enter!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

I wonder if he's using the same wind we are using...

For Princess Bride fans, that title should ring vaguely familiar. Inigo Montoya says this after the mysterious ship following them from a distance suddenly appears within 200 feet behind them.

"He is right on top of us! I wonder if he's using the same wind we are using..."

Naturally, this made me think about writing (hee hee) and how we all write at different paces.

Kiersten White wrote the bestselling PARANORMALCY in something like 3 weeks! My fastest is still two months! And that was for a 40k-word middle grade story.

I'm not going to place value on one writing process over another, because everybody's different. But, it did get me thinking about how Elana Johnson writes a blog post a day, comments on a bazillion other blogs, critiques for her friends, and still manages to write a book as awesome as the upcoming POSSESSION!!

It hardly seems fair!

Until I realize she's using the same wind I'm using. She's just figured out a more efficient way of using that wind.

Of course there are other variables, and technically we aren't all using the same wind (nor do we all have the same amount of time). Still, it makes me wonder. How much could I get done if I practiced the discipline some of these prolific, super-social-networking authors have mastered?

If you're thinking, "Inconceivable!" then I'll remind you that Inigo also said, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Nothing is impossible. I'm off to tackle this darn wind!

What are you guys working on today?

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Have I Told You Lately?

In case you were in doubt...




Special shout outs to:

Angie Townsend
Amparo Ortiz
Lindsay Scott (aka Isabella Morgan)
Michelle McLean
Kristal Shaff
Kelly Andrews

"You fill my heart with gladness,
Take away all my sadness.
Ease my troubles, that's what you do."

And I'm grateful for all my blog buddies, too! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your awesome with me on a daily basis. It means a lot to me.

Have you loved on your critique partners and writing friends lately?

Amparo's 200 Followers Contest prizes are free critiques! Don't miss the contests and submission calls Kristal linked over at Operation Awesome today, either!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Top Ten Songs of All Time Blogfest


Alex has done it again! He's organized a blogfest for the masses that I couldn't resist! Check it out: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

Counting down our top tunes of all time! 
Music moves us. It inspires us! Now, tell the world YOUR ten favorite songs of all time. The Song, the band – why does it move you?

Here are my favorite songs:

10. Wind Beneath My Wings (I know some of you may think this is lame, but I'm going by songs that popped into my head just when I needed them, and this is the most frequent visitor to my brain.) "Did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be! I can fly higher than an eagle, cuz you were the wind beneath my wings." Power ballads get me *taps chest* right here.

9. Journey to the Past (from the Disney movie Anastasia). It moves me because I think we're all on a journey to understand ourselves by understanding our pasts. When I was backpacking with troubled teens in southern Utah, it got stuck in my head a lot. To me, it's about returning to the things that matter after we've been lost.
Journey to the Past


Heart, don't fail me now!
Courage, don't desert me!
Don't turn back now that we're here
People always say
Life is full of choices
No one ever mentions fear!
Or how the world can seem so vast
On a journey...to the past

Somewhere down this road
I know someone's waiting
Years of dreams just can't be wrong
Arms will open wide
I'll be safe and wanted
Finally home where I belong
Well, starting now, I'm learning fast

On this journey...to the past

Home, Love, Family
There was once a time
I must have had them too
Home, Love, Family
I will never be complete
Until I find you...

One step at a time,
One hope, then another
Who knows where this road may go
Back to who I was
On to find my future,
Things my heart still needs to know

Yes, let this be a sign!
Let this road be mine!
Let it lead me to my past

And bring me home... at last (lyrics from this site)

8. Come What May (from Moulin Rouge) This is my love song with my husband. We sang it at both our wedding receptions (one in AZ and one in Michigan). But we sang it first in a church talent show while we were dating. To me, it's the quintessential love song. Also, Moulin Rouge was the first movie we watched together. It had always been one of my favorites, but it was even more romantic with my shiny new husband.

Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day I love you more and more
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing?
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time

Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you
And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather,
And stars may collide
But I love you (I love you)
Until the end of time(until the end of time)

Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day

Oh, come what may, come what may
I will love you, Oh I will love you
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place

Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day (lyrics from this site)

7. I Knew I Loved You (Before I Met You ) by Savage Garden. First of all, I just freakin love Savage Garden. Second of all, this song works on so many levels. Lovers, children, God.

Maybe it's intuition 
but some things you just don't question 
Like in your eyes, I see my future in an instant 
And there it goes, 
I think I found my best friend 
I know that it might sound 
more than a little crazy 
but I believe... 

I knew I loved you before I met you 
I think I dreamed you into life 
I knew I loved you before I met you 
I have been waiting all my life 

There's just no rhyme or reason 
Only the sense of completion 
And in your eyes, I see 
the missing pieces I'm searching for 
I think I've found my way home 
I know that it might sound 
more than a little crazy 
but I believe... 

I knew I loved you before I met you 
I think I dreamed you into life 
I knew I loved you before I met you 
I have been waiting all my life 

A thousand angels dance around you 
I am complete now that I've found you 

I knew I loved you before I met you 
I think I dreamed you into life 
I knew I loved you before I met you 
I have been waiting all my life 

I knew I loved you before I met you 
I think I dreamed you into life 
I knew I loved you before I met you 
I have been waiting all my life (lyrics from this site)

6. It's Your Day by Blessed Union of Souls. It reminds me of my mortality, and the poetry is wicked awesome. I heart Blessed Union of Souls.

It's your day 
Colored pictures from a kid's eye 
Across the way 
And the animals all curious today 
As if life is just a candle wish away 
Wish away 

It's your day 
Candles burning more than you would like to say 
Send the conversation way the other way 
Did you find another silver line today 
Or is it gray 

Gotta learn to keep those ghosts away 
Buy'em all a one way ticket on a flight to Neverland 
God'll help you keep those ghosts away 
It took a little while but I'm free again 

Celebrate 
There was a time that you were happy on this day 
But you dreamed all of those precious years away 
And the golden ones get closer everyday 
Wouldn't you say 

Gotta learn to keep those ghosts away 
Buy'em a one way ticket on a flight to Neverland 
God'll help you keep those ghosts away 
It took a little while but I'm free again 

Sing along 
Lift your head up high cause there is nothing wrong 
It's a wonder you survived it here this long 
Living life as iuf it were a sing-along 
Sing along 

Gotta learn to keep those ghosts away 
Buy'em all a one way ticket on a flight to Neverland 
God'll help you keep those ghosts away 
Took a little while but I'm free again 
Need a little time til I'm free again (lyrics from this site)


5. May Angels Lead You In by Jimmy Eat World. Poignant doesn't even describe this song. It's heart-wrenching. And yet I can't get enough of it.

There's no one in town I know 
You gave us some place to go. 
I never said thank you for that. 
I thought I might get one more chance. 

What would you think of me now, 
so lucky, so strong, so proud? 
I never said thank you for that, 
now I'll never have a chance. 

May angels lead you in. 
Hear you me my friends. 
On sleepless roads the sleepless go. 
May angels lead you in. 

Now what would you think of me now, 
so lucky, so strong, so proud? 
I never said thank you for that, 
now I'll never have a chance. 


May angels lead you in. 

Hear you me my friends. 
On sleepless roads the sleepless go. 
May angels lead you in. 

And if you were with me tonight, 
I'd sing to you just one more time. 
A song for a heart so big, 
god couldn't let it live. 

May angels lead you in. 
Hear you me my friends. 
On sleepless roads the sleepless go. 
May angels lead you in. 

May angels lead you in. 
Hear you me my friends. 
On sleepless roads the sleepless go. 
May angels lead you in. 
May angels lead you in. (lyrics from this site)

4. Saturday's Warriors by Lex de Azevedo. It's from a play turned movie also called Saturday's Warrior. This is an LDS song about children being born in these times and if you could hear the melody it would probably make you cry, too. Absolutely incredible song! It moves me because I think of my own children when I hear it. Especially the part about "endless promise in their eyes."




Saturday's Warriors by Lex de Azevedo







Saturday's Warriors


Words and Music by Doug Stewart and Lex de Azevedo


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Who are these children coming down,
Coming down like gentle rain through darkened skies?
With glory trailing from their feet as they go?
And endless promise in their eyes?


Who are these young ones growin' tall, growing strong
Like silver trees against the storm?
Who will not bend with the wind or the change
But stand to fight the world alone?




(chorus)
These are the few, the warriors saved for Saturday
To come the last days of the world these are they on Saturday
These are the strong, the warriors rising in their might
To win the battle raging in the hearts of man on Saturday




Strangers from a realm of light who have forgotten all
The mem'ry of their former life, the purpose of their call
And so they must learn why they're here and who they really are.
They must learn why they're here and who they are.




In their sunbright armor they march forth to conquer all
And with their swords ablaze with fire watch the darkness fall
But first they must learn why they're here and who they really are
They must learn why they're here and who they are. (lyrics from this site)

3. Angel Lullaby by Lex de Azevedo. This one is from a play called My Turn On Earth, but I first heard it as a lullaby my mom sang almost every night. I remember requesting it because it made me feel safe. As a nanny, I sang it to my bosses' little boy, and now I sing it to my own boys.




Angel Lullaby by Lex de Azevedo







Angel Lullaby


Words: Carol Lynn Pearson Music: Lex de Azevedo


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


You came from a land where all is light
to a world half day and a world half night.
To guide you by day, you have my love,
To guard you by night, your friends above.
(Chorus)
So sleep, sleep, till the darkness ends,
guarded by your angel friends.
So sleep, sleep, till the darkness ends,
guarded by your angel friends.


There's one stands softly by your bed
and another sits close with a hand on your head.
There's one at the window watching for the dawn,
and one waits to wake you when the night is gone. (Chorus) (Lyrics from this site)


2. The Prayer (as sung by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion). I don't even know if I have to say WHY this moves me. I mean, come on! It's Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion! But I guess part of why it moves me is that it's one of my husband's favorite songs to sing, and I love to hear him sing it.

I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise in times when we don't know.
Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way.
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.
La luce che tu dai
Nel cuore restera
A ricordarci che
L'eterna stella sei.
I pray we'll find your light,
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night,
Remind us where you are..
Nella mia preghiera
Quanta fede c'e.
Lead us to a place ?
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Sogniamo un mondo senza piu violenza,
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza.
Ognuno dia una mano al suo vicino,
Simbolo di pace...di fraternita.
La forza che ci dai
E desiderio te
Ognuno trovi amor
Intorno e dentro se.
Let this be our prayer,
Just like every child.
We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above.
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love.
Let this be our prayer,
Just like every child.
Needs to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
E la fede che hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salverai... (lyrics from this site)

1. We've Only Just Begun sung by the Carpenters. This song moves me because it's one of my mom's favorites, and it's about the potential we each have in our lives. Gotta love that!

We've Only Just Begun lyrics
Songwriters: Nichols, Roger; Williams, Paul;

We've only just begun to live
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way
We've only begun

Before the risin' sun, we fly
So many roads to choose
We'll start out walkin' and learn to run
And yes, we've just begun

Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day, together

And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun

Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day, together, together

And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun

these lyrics are last corrected by Carly Nunez (lyrics from this site)

This was a much harder assignment than I anticipated! Looking forward to reading your favorites, as well!