Whitewashing Wicker

My boys and I love the library. We typically raid something off every shelf while we're there. Non-fiction, fantasy, audiobook, you name it. Unfortunately those items easily scatter all over my house, and whenever I put them on my bookshelf they always looked cluttered. While I was at a yard-sale one week, I found this nifty piece of wicker.

It was a bout 2 x 1 feet, and had a reinforced lid. I loved the idea of having a covered place to put all the mix-matched titles. Plus it was only $4.00, so it was an easy yes. I brought it home and found the perfect spot to put it next to my bookshelves. The shelves are whitewashed from IKEA, and I absolute love them (Staging them is still a work in progress). So, as I was sitting there, admiring my clutter solution, I thought "I bet I could whitewash that". I looked up a great little video on how to clean and whitewash wicker.

I purchased a paintbrush and Minwax Wood Stain Whitewash Pickling and got to work.
(Click on the picture to be directed to an Amazon description.)

It only took me about two hours total and the project was finished! Now I absolutely love my library basket. I love the way the wood still shows through the whitewash, giving it warm undertones. It's also not a flat white, there are different hues of the whicker showing through. It's one of my favorite small decor pieces!  

It makes the area next to my selves so clean, cohesive, and bright. I love it. If you decide to try it out, let me know how your whitewash projects go in the comments below!

Pitching

Every year, there is this amazing conference I like to attend called Life, the Universe, Everything (LTUE) in Provo, Utah. While I was there, I signed up for two separate pitch sessions. One was with a publisher, and one was with an agent. It was exciting, stressful, rewarding, educational... Everything I hoped it would be. I did a lot of research before pitching, and thought I'd share some of the main points I discovered.

First off, there are basically three different kinds of pitches:

1st: The Elevator Pitch

2nd: A Conference Pitch

3rd: A Query Letter.

All three of these are different forms of presenting your book, but at the heart of all three of them is the same question... What is your story about?

You would think that answering this question would be easy, but the truth is, learning to narrow down my novel to a few key sentences was write a query was almost as hard as writing the entire novel.

First of all let's talk about how each of these pitches should look.

An elevator pitch is one sentence to hook your audience and make them ask questions.

A conference pitch is what you would say after that hooking sentence. You follow up with about a paragraph worth of storytelling that captivates your audience even more and makes them want to read the book.

A query letter is the above two pitches, but lengthened to about two paragraphs. This can be more of a summary of your book, but should absolutely draw your audience in. This summary is followed by a paragraph describing the genre, word count, title, and comparable titles, then another paragraph of your personal biography and qualifications.

Something my writers group did to help us become more confident about pitching, was we made shirts with the following on the back.

Rachel Huffmire

Ask me about "Granted".

This was super helpful, because people continually asked me about my book, in the hall, before class started, at lunch. I had so many opportunities to practice. I would start with the elevator pitch, and if they showed interest, I would continue with the conference version. By the time I was ready to pitch to agents and editors, I had already had plenty of run-throughs to get my jitters out. Plus, I made some excellent friends and we beta read for each other.

All in all, my recommendations are, if your novel is ready to query, try pitching. It is a great way to meet people and a better way to get your foot in the door. When I pitched to the publishing house, they requested a full manuscript and asked about my other work. They even invited me down to their office to take a private tour and let me sign my name on their wall. Because I put myself out there last year, I had an opportunity to "level up" in my understanding of the publishing world. It was a great experience. If you have a pitch, leave a comment! Practice pitching here. I'd love to see what you're working on!

Book Review: Dangerous by Shannon Hale

Summary: When Maisie Danger Brown wins a cereal sweepstakes and goes to astronaut camp, she doesn't expect to gain superpowers. After her teenage team handles alien technology, it unexpectedly injects Nanorobot technology that changes their bodies molecular composition. But before they can feel too cool about it, the team is fragmented and hunted for their abilities. Maisie struggles to figure out who she can trust and gather the powers so they can fulfill their original purpose: saving the world.

Personal notes: Shannon Hale is one of my favorite authors. I discovered her in college when I picked up Goose Girl, and immediately knew she was something special. This book had me laughing out loud at unexpected moments with her delightful wit. Short story, I stayed up till 2 AM on a weeknight to finish this book. I had a special interest in this particular book because of a lecture I attended by Shannon Hale where she talked about her research process on this story. She actually sat down with big time scientists and asked if all the technology and science in her book was probable. She said it was such an engaging lunch, because the scientists were excited about the technology she had imagined and dove into explaining the possibilities it could offer. It was fun to recognize the moments she had pinpointed and to learn real science while I was reading.

Why this book is important: 

Strong Protagonist: This book featured a smart, strong female protagonist. Maisie was intelligent and reasonable and awesome. I like the whole "smart is the new pretty" craze going on. This definitely fit that theme.

Disabilities: Maisie only has one hand, so there is some bullying and self evaluation that goes on because of it, however, it wasn't discussed as in depth as I've seen in other books. She finds a way around her disability, but it didn't exactly become a strength to her. She builds a robot hand, using her other strengths to ease the disability, but I would have loved to see a moment when her disability became a critical part of her success.

Romance: I discuss this more in the "Content" section, but Maisie stands up for abstinence in a particular scene. At the end of the book, she discusses a little bit about infatuation vs. love. So, while her relationship with the romantic interest is unhealthy in a few ways, I feel like Hale does a good job at making you recognize that and think about it. Instead of letting the romance run wild emotionally, she really does make you wonder "Is this a good relationship for Maisie?" because Maisie is very thoughtful about it herself.

Content: 

Language: Maisie is a sweet, innocent character, who bleeps out others expletives in her own mind, so you'll get the gist when someone is swearing without actually hearing what they say. It was funny and well justified, so I found it entertaining rather than distracting.

Sex: There is a romantic interest and plenty of kissing in the book, but it led to a moment that I think is important to see in YA these days. When things got a little hot and heavy, and her boy hinted at taking things all the way, Maisie has a moment of clarity and stands up for herself and her virtue. She lays out a great model for youth to follow. She shows Maisie making a firm decision early on to support abstinence, and then how that decision makes it easier for her to reason through the moment, and stay true to herself. I think it's important for teens to read this scene because it's not one that is commonly represented in YA literature or entertainment.

Supplementary material: 

Shannon Hale has a long list of books that I would gladly recommend. She writes for children, young adults and adults. She writes fantasy, science fiction, romantic comedy and graphic novels. She is extremely talented and makes me laugh in all her work. Some books to check out if you like this one are:

Childrens:

The Princess in Black Series

Rapunzel's Revenge
Calamity Jack

Ever After High Series

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl


Young Adult:

The Books of Bayern Series:
Goose Girl
Enna Burning
River Secrets
Forest Born

Princess Academy Series:
Princess Academy (Newberry Honor)
Palace of Stone
The Forgotten Sisters

Book of a Thousand Days


Adult:

Austenland Series:
Austenland
Midnight in Austenland

The Actor and the Housewife

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by J. K. Rowling

Happy 20th anniversary HP!

Summary:

Harry is an orphan living in the cupboard under the stairs in his grumpy uncle and prickly aunts home. When a mysterious collection of letters arrives, Harry is amazed to learn that he is a wizard, and has been admitted into Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. There he learns about a dark wizard named Voldemort who was defeated when he tried to attack Harry as a baby. Whispers and clues begin to hint that perhaps Voldemort is returning to power, and Harry and his friends must work together to prevent him from getting what he wants.

Personal notes: 

I read this book when I was nine and was enchanted. I loved jumping into such a unique world and was thrilled that the protagonists were the same age as me. I feel like I hit this lucky jackpot, where Harry and his friends grew up at the same pace that I did. Every few years a new book was released and by the time I graduated high school, the last book came out. There were elaborate release parties where people would dress up and wait in lines for hours till midnight so they could be the first to get their hands on the stories. I have never seen anything like that since. JK Rowling genuinely brought magic into millions of people's lives.

Why this book is important: 

I asked my six year old (who is halfway through book 4) why these books are important for kids to read and he said "because these books are awesome!" These books have the power to introduce an entirely new world into their imagination. Face it, everyone wishes they could go to Hogwarts. It is said time and time again that HP got children reading again. I believe the reason is because it was purely exciting. I love that my six year old is thrilled to be reading a 720 page book (book 4) because the story is so engaging to him. That is truly magical.

Supplementary material: 

The supplemental material for Harry Potter is endless. Movies, theme parks, toys, board games, cosplay... I also love the pottermore website. There is a fantastic short story by JK Rowling on the history of magic in America that I would love to see expanded into a movie. If you can't get enough HP, go over and check it out.

Book Review: My Fathers Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Summary:

Elmer meets a stray tabby cat who tells him of a mysterious island where a baby dragon is held captive by the forest animals. Elmer packs a small backpack of odds and ends and sets out to free the baby dragon. Can Elmer outsmart the animals and save the sweet little dragon using only 24 pink lollipops, some rubber bands and a hair comb?

My thoughts:

This book was darling. The bad guys aren't scary or bad as much as they are selfish or impatient, so if your child scares easily, this one is a good book for you. The heroes are absolutely sweet. It was really enjoyable to see how Elmer dealt with his problems in a clever and unexpected way. It reminded me of how my friends and I used to play make believe when we were little. The entire book is innocent and charming.

Why this book is important to read:

This was the first chapter book I read to my children. The chapters are short, the illustrations are sweet, and the plot holds them captive. It is a great way to transition your child to the world of novels. After this book, my son was genuinely interested when I asked if he wanted to read other, harder books (I think we read Wizard of Oz next).

Supplemental material:

There are three books that complete the story of Elmer, so this book will finish quickly, but your child will be held hungry to see how it all ends. I found a cute site that has a whole bunch of supplemental materials for your child to use while you read. You can make your own backpack with cut outs of Elmers supplies. There are coloring pages and other activities. Find them here:
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/my_fathers_dragon.php

Book Review: Redwall by Brian Jacques

Summary:

Young Matthias mouse wishes to be a great warrior like the legendary Martin. But living inside the peaceful Abby walls of Redwall, there's not much need for that sort of thing. Not until the vicious warlord rat named Cluny the Scourge arrives with his whip-like tail. Besieged by Cluny's hoard, Redwall residents must suddenly learn how to defend their beloved home and Matthias goes on a mission to discover Martin the Warriors long lost sword and enlist the woodland creatures to assist in driving off the horrible rats.

Personal Notes:

I read this book as a ten year old and just read it again to my six year old son. It is so exciting and well written. The world Brian Jacques created is such a beautiful one. His villains are immediately dark and ruthless and a bit scary. But it makes the hero all the more brave when he is willing to face up to such a menacing villain as Cluny. When I was little we had a rooster that we were all afraid of, and we named him Cluny the scourge because that was the worst possible thing we could have called him.

Why it's important to read to your child:

The puzzles and riddles and language of this story are so enriching. They will get your child thinking and learning without realizing. The plot progresses at such a wonderful pace that your child won't want you to stop. But the most important aspect is the bravery that so many of these character possess. (Some scenes may be a little scary for young ones) They could easily refuse to take on the challenges that face them. They are given more than one opportunity to surrender, but it is never discussed as an option. We talked about themes of bravery, villainy, defending loved ones, fighting, solving riddles.

Supplementary Material:

There is an entire series in the Redwall world and all of them that I have read are on the same level of quality. I tore through them as a young girl and now my son is eager to read them himself. There was a wonderful series on PBS while I was growing up that was an animated version of the books. There were tons of episodes and my brothers and I all worked hard to record each one on VHS so we would ultimately have the entire series. There was one episode that we always missed. It was a neat series because they took a moment after every episode to interview Brian Jacques. He would talk (very animatedly in a Scottish accent) about the world and characters of Redwall and it was one of the first stepping stones toward my interest in becoming a writer.

Book Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles by Toni DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.

Summary:

Jared's parents just divorced and now he has to go live in his aunts rotting old house. Odds and ends start mysteriously disappearing and the children begin to suspect they aren't the only ones who live there. Mischief and mystery fill the walls, making the siblings work together to figure out what could possibly be causing so much havoc.

My thoughts:

This book had beautiful illustrations, was funny and I enjoyed the plot right along with my kids. It only took an hour and a half to read the whole thing, so we were finished in three days. The setting was fun and I could see my kiddos imagination running the entire time I read. He was riveted.

Why this book is important to read to your child:

First off, I love that it introduces a whole different side of fairies. They are a little more like monsters than Tinkerbell. Boggarts, goblins, etc...

Second, the writing was great. I was genuinely impressed and happy to read it to my kids.

Third: These kids come from a turbulent family, one that I've seen far too often in real life. The parents are recently divorced and the children are struggling. There is a lot of name calling and anger going around, and yet they desperately cling to each other for support. They are good people in a stressful situation, so you like them even though you understand they could be nicer to each other. Jared gets in trouble at school, his twin brother Simon turns to the comfort of his pets, and Mallory obsessively trains with her fencing foil. But when they discover a mystery inside the house, they all work together to bravely figure out what is going on. I loved talking to My kids about this family dynamic. It was easy to recognize the anger in these children and discuss why they acted the way they did. We talked about compassion, self soothing, anger, bravery and teamwork.

Supplementary material:

This book is first in an entire series that we are currently tearing through. The books get a little more exciting and intense, but the writing stays up to par as far as quality goes. I will post reviews of these books as we go because my kiddos enjoy them so much.
There was a movie made of the series, but I haven't seen it, but if any of you have, I'd love to see your opinion in the comments!

Book Review: Matilda by Roald Dahl

Summary:

Matilda is a prodigy. She is sweet, resourceful and reading classical novels by the age of 5. Unfortunately, her parents are simpleminded crooks who don't even notice. They send her to a horrible elementary school ruled over by the villainous Miss Trunchbull, a retired shot-put Olympian who hates children. But Matilda is determined to put things right. Determined to write her own story by mischievously solving problems Matilda learns to also look out for those around her.

Personal Notes:

I discovered Roald Dahl in fourth grade and have been an avid fan ever since. For Christmas I asked for his complete works and have loved introducing his stories to my children and husband. My husband particularly loved this story. That's the beauty of Roald Dahl; his stories reach every age. Dahl isn't afraid to explore dark humor, or mischief.

Why this book is important to read to your child: 

I think a lot of people misunderstand this story. Matilda understands that the adults around her aren't very nice, and knows that someone should do something about it. But she is small and quiet, so in a very smart and comical way she tries to teach the adults a lesson. I think it is a lighthearted way to show children that bullies can be outsmarted. I had some great discussions with my family about how we treat each other, what my own children's options are when someone picks on them, how we don't have to quietly accept inappropriate behavior from others (although I don't promote gluing someone's hat to their head as an appropriate option.) I think this book important because it is empowering to children to both have confidence in themselves if they feel someone isn't treating them correctly, and also being resourceful and using their head rather than lashing back.

Supplemental material:

The movie by Danny Devito is a family classic. I have loved that movie since I was little. But even more powerful is the new Matilda Musical! David and I were lucky enough to see this show a week after we finished reading the book and it was incredible. One of my favorite musicals of all time! It brought new power and life to the story. If you can get your hands on the soundtrack, do it. Tim Minchim (composer) is the perfect blend of intelligent wit and off-kilter humor for this show. It digs even deeper into the theme of self empowerment and was beautifully done.

Book Review: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.

Summary:

Hugo is an orphan living inside the walls of a Parisian train station, fixing clocks and stealing croissants. When he discovers a broken mechanical man in the ashes of his fathers office, he is determined to fix it. Perhaps it will give him a secret message from his father. As he tries to steal parts from the local toy maker, Georges, he is caught and made to work for the old man. Magic, movies and mystery surround Georges, and Hugo is determined to find how everything connects.

Personal Notes:

It's a thick book, (534 pages!) but that's what is so fun about it! It is full of so many beautiful illustrations you and your child can tear through the whole novel in just a few days. (It took us about 2 hours total to read it) I give it 5/5! My six year old loved it as well. It offers a beautiful snapshot of the early days of cinema. It's full of fun mysteries and chase scenes, and will really get their imagination going.

Why This Book is Important to Read to Your Child: 

It was awesome to see the confidence on my kiddos face to know that he finished such a big book so quickly. The themes in the book were valuable and I feel like I was able to discuss some really important topics with my little guy. Some topics you can discuss are: homelessness, lies, perseverance, desperation, hope, resourcefulness, friendship, and creativity.

Supplemental Material:

There's a charming movie on Netflix right now that you can watch to celebrate finishing such a big book with your child. It embellishes the role of the station inspector and adds a layer of humor that we both enjoyed. Plus, the book talks about a lot of old movies, and shows stills from the films, but watching this movie, you actually get to see the clips that Selznick talked about in the book.