Caleb's Lighthouse & They Didn't Teach THIS in Worm School -- Double Review and Giveaway

Thought for the Day:

“Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, 

I can appreciate patience.”

~ Hal Borland ~

Gifts for My Writer Friends:

Here’s another old one I found in my email, but it’s terrific. I don’t know of any one-character books, although Hatchet by Gary Paulsen comes close. For the rest of us, we need secondary characters. The post HERE discusses how to do secondary characters well. 

C. S. Lakin has a good post HERE on Writers Helping Writers that is critical for beginning writers and good reminders for more experienced writers on the 10 Key Scenes You Need to Frame Up Your Novel. 

 Jenny Hansen has a guest post HERE on Writers in the Storm that is not to be missed. There are links in it that might change a lot of things for you and in a good way. 

I was MIA last week because I was in New York for the weekend on a family trip. I expected to post anyway, but I took a terrible fall on Saturday evening while boarding the Circle Line boat for the Harbor Lights tour. Try to never faceplant on a steel deck. It's not fun. I'm still having headaches and my face looks like I went a couple rounds with Mike Tyson, but nothing was broken and I'm better every day. That said, I just wasn't up to posting last Sunday. Other than the faceplant, I had a really nice trip that included a Broadway show (Waitress) with a backstage tour compliments of a friend of Maggie who is in that show and the last regular season Yankees game of the year with my grandson, Gehrig. Even the boat ride was nice once the bleeding stopped. 😂

I promised a hardcover of Heartwood Hotel Book 2 The Greatest Gift by Kallie George to one of you. It's such a sweet book. The winner this time is Carol Baldwin. Congratulations, Carol! I will get the book out to you soon. If you don't know Carol, she is a North Carolina writer who blogs at the aptly-named Carol Baldwin's Blog which you can find HERE. There is always a lot to learn at Carol's blog. For the rest of you, please keep reading. I have a special, double giveaway this week.

Caleb's Lighthouse by Tracy Schuldt Helixon is an early middle grade book that is about as sweet as they come. Caleb is the youngest of seven boys. When the family moves to a lighthouse where Father is to be the new lighthouse keeper, the older boys claim the beds and Caleb doesn't seem to have a place. But the house seems to speak to Caleb, welcoming him and helping him find a place to fit in. Through the years, the story tells what it was like to grow up in this environment, the house giving comfort and solace to Caleb. The family moves away after the lighthouse is automated, and the house falls into ruin, but the story comes full circle when Caleb returns to help restore the house. This is a sweet story kids and lighthouse lovers (like me) will enjoy, especially when they find out it's based on a real place. Both writing and illustrations are lovely.

They Didn't Teach THIS in Worm School! by Simone Lia is also for early middle-

grade readers and is about as silly a story as one can find. It tells the tale of a worm named Marcus who tricks a chicken named Laurence into not eating him and, in doing so, triggers an amazing journey and an even more amazing friendship. Laurence, it turns out, believes he is really a Flamingo and should be living in Africa. His problem is he can't read a map or navigate to get there. Marcus is Laurence's only hope of getting there. The book just gets sillier as it goes on with lots of funny characters wandering in and out of the story, making for lots of nonsensical tension and wacky situations. Cute illustrations throughout help to keep those pages turning. This will be a big hit with the young middle-grade crowd.

I have gently-read paperbacks of both of these for one of you. Caleb's Lighthouse is a signed copy. To win, all you need do is have a US address, be a subscriber or follower, and tell me that in a comment you leave on this post. If you are reading this in your email, click HERE to go to the blog so you can leave a comment. If you would like extra chances, please spread the word by posting the link on a Tweet, blog post, Facebook, or any other way you like. Let me know what you have done in your comment, and I will put in extra chances for you for each that you do.

Don't forget to check out Shannon Messenger's wonderful blog HERE for many more Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday reviews and giveaways.

Heartwood Hotel Book 2 The Greatest Gift -- Review & Giveaway

Thought for the Day:

“My stories run up and bite me in the leg -- I respond by writing them down -- everything that 

goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off.” 

~ Ray Bradbury ~

Gifts for My Writer Friends:

I have started clearing out my email. It’s been a while. I ran across this post from Janice Hardy from 2015 that I had bookmarked in my email. It’s so good (and timeless) that I decided to post the link HERE in spite of the age. 

A great villain is hard to beat and so necessary to a story. Kristin Lamb has a post HERE that will help you create just such a character. And, BONUS, her posts are always fun to read. 

This is just for fun. Folks at the University of York have uncovered 30 words lost from the English language that should maybe make a comeback HERE. That said, I might be put off if anyone referred to me as being snout-fair. 

Now and then I have time to read a book for actual adults. The book I recently read is Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.  I really loved it and want to recommend it to any other adult readers. It's a terrific story with great writing. 

Last week I offered a copy of A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting by Joe Ballarini to one of you. This week's winner is Paddy Lawton. Congratulations, Paddy! I will get your book out to you soon. For the rest of you, another wonderful giveaway in the offing. Please stay tuned.

This week's book is Heartwood Hotel, Book 2, The Greatest Gift, a sweet book by Kallie George for early middle-graders. Here is my review for the San Francisco Book Review.

Mona the mouse has recently joined the staff at the Heartwood Hotel, and it is a very busy time of year until they get all the hibernating animals settled in. The staff celebrates with a St. Slumber supper and gifts are exchanged. Mona, an orphan mouse, had no idea she should have gifts for anyone and feels terrible that she doesn’t. Duchess Haveline, a demanding, wealthy rabbit, arrives unannounced and insists on being in the penthouse and having the lobby carpet installed in her room. Mona decides she will make a new carpet as a gift for everyone. She goes to the storage room to get twine and discovers a thief who is stealing food. Since a days-long blizzard is happening, this could be a disaster for all.

Author Kallie George has created a charming world populated by an enchanting

Kallie George

group of animal characters for younger middle-grade readers. Her writing is lovely and lyrical, and her story has a little mystery and a lot of delight. Illustrations by Stephanie Graegin complete this endearing story with perfectly adorable depictions of the characters and actions. This second book in the series will keep young readers captivated.

I have a gently-read hardback of this book to share with one of you. To win, all you need do is have a US address, be a subscriber or follower, and tell me that in a comment you leave on this post. If you are reading this in your email, click HERE to go to the blog so you can leave a comment. If you would like extra chances, please spread the word by posting the link on a Tweet, blog post, Facebook, or any other way you like. Let me know what you have done in your comment, and I will put in extra chances for you for each that you do.

Don't forget to check out Shannon Messenger's wonderful blog HERE for many more Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday reviews and giveaways.