All Categories - fantasy books for kids 8-12

fantasy books for kids 8-12

FLYING ANTS DAY

7/6/2017

Heads up everyone (that is if you in the UK this summer); July is the month when the UK witnesses a phenomenon known as National Flying Ants Day.

This is when ant princesses and male ants, known as drones, leave their nests en masse on a nuptial flight looking to mate with ants from other colonies.

Some of you may have seen some ants flying around already – but if so, you haven’t seen anything yet.

Although the phenomenon is called Flying Ant Day, it doesn’t just happen on one day. Each year, the flying ant period lasts a few weeks with several peak days and often builds up to one specific day when millions of ants leave their nests at the same time. This is triggered by warm temperatures and often after summer rain.

After meeting their Prince Charming, the princesses tear off their wings and start a new colony – under paving stones, in tree stumps and in the soil. Here, they will live the rest of their lives, which can often be more than two decades.

However, after mating not all princesses survive. Many fall prey to predators such as birds and other insects, starve or are victims of environmental hazards. And what of the drones? You may well ask. Once their work is done, those frisky males die soon after.

So brace yourself. The invasion usually takes place around the end of July, but is getting earlier and earlier due to Global Warming.

Meanwhile if you are looking for a fun summer read for the kids in your life, look no further than my fantasy alternative look at life in an ant colony. ANTics is full of humour from start to finish, a great book for kids of all ages.

Check out ANTics: viewBook.at/ANTics

ANTS MARITIME ADVENTURE

9/23/2016

(Photo: Jim Bauer/Flickr)

In my fantasy novel Antics, my six-legged heroes escape their enemy by fleeing over a vast expanse of water. The water is a puddle that you or me would splash through or skip over, but to a tiny ant – the size of a grain of rice – it’s like a vast ocean.

Around 500 years ago, some real-life ants did in fact cross an ocean. The tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata) went on a high seas adventure and changed the course of ant history. Until the 16th century, the species was native only to the Americas, but they can now be found around the world. Researchers believe that’s because they hitched rides on Spanish galleons.

Many of the ships that sailed from Acapulco, Mexico were empty and carried soil for ballast. When they got to their destination, they dumped the soil and replaced it with cargo to take to other parts of the world – unwittingly taking the tiny stowaways with them.

(Photo: Jeff Kern/Flickr)

Centuries later, these ants, that pack a powerful sting (much like my rascally heroes), can be found almost anywhere with a tropical climate, including Africa, Australia, India and Southeast Asia.

Researchers Voyage of Discovery

Researchers from the University of Illinois in America analysed the genetics of modern tropical fire ants from 192 locales and found that the ants outside the Americas were most genetically similar to ants from southwestern Mexico, suggesting that’s where they originated from.

They also looked at the trading patterns of Spanish sailing vessels going to and from the New World centuries ago. The Spanish established a regular trade route from Acapulco carrying silver and by accident, ants across the Pacific to Manila, Philippines, and from there to other parts of the world.
(Photo: Matthew Hadley/Flickr)

Doing so, they unknowingly created a headache for future generation because invasive ants are a huge problem that costs millions of dollars each year to control.

“If you look at the records, you look at the history, you look at the old trading routes and you look at the genetics, it all paints this picture that this was one of the first global invasions, and it coincided with what could be the first global trade pattern of the Spanish,” said study author Andrew Suarez, from the University of Illinois. “The ants from the introduced areas in the Old World are genetically most similar to ants from southwestern Mexico, suggesting that their source population came from this region.”

But for my tiny ants, a puddle is a big enough ocean to cross. To read about my heroes “high seas” adventure visit: http://viewBook.at/ANTics

Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep reaching for the stars

STRANGER THAN FICTION

4/8/2016

The Top 7 Smartest Dogs

How smart is your dog?

You may think your Beagle is the brainiest, your Siberian Husky is the sharpest or your Cocker Spaniel is the cleverest pooch on the block – but paws a minute.

Trainers say any dog can learn the basics such as sitting, staying and coming when you call. But some breeds are more intelligent than others.

Doggy researchers have come up with a list of the dogs that stand out from the pack. They base their findings on how quickly dogs learn, how well they respond to human commands and if they can act on their own if necessary.

Rufus, the dog in my children’s book WOOF – A Boy's Best Friend is smarter than your average dog. He’s a stray that walks into the life of Jeremy, a lonely nine-year-old, and changes his life. Along the way, Rufus manages to put Jeremy in a few fixes – but pulls him out of some, too. Rufus is of dubious ancestry; a mixture of breeds, so you won’t find him on this list.

How does your dog shape up?

7. Labrador Retriever

Seventh out of 7 is The Labrador Retriever. The Lab, as it's affectionately known, is hugely popular with pet lovers in the UK and US. These gorgeous dogs are named for the cold waters off Newfoundland where they were first bred.

Their short thick coat, webbed feet and heavy tail are perfect for swimming long distances in cold water, making them a favourite for hunting and water rescue. Known for their intelligence, patience, affection and gentleness, they are easily trained and make ideal companions and pets in households with kids, as therapy dogs and helping lead the blind.
Photo credit: Flickr Kevin Rodriguez Ortiz

6. The Shetland Sheepdog

The "Sheltie" is a herding dog, equally at home on the farm or in the suburbs, as long as they get plenty of exercise.

This rough-coated, longhaired working breed is alert and intelligent and can do a lot more than sit and roll over. It can learn new commands with few repetitions, making sure all the livestock or the family are safe and sound.
Photo credit: Flickr Krysta

5. Doberman Pinscher

This breed was originally bred by a German tax collector for protection on his rounds. Known for their fearlessness, stamina and fear, they are one of the most popular breed of guard dogs.

They may appear intimidating, but modern Dobermans are less aggressive and with proper training can make loyal pets. They understand their owner’s temperament well and can adjust to the given situation.
Photo credit: Flickr TNS Safres

4. Golden Retriever

Bred as a hunting companion in Scotland in 1865, this fiercely loyal, friendly and patient dog is obedient and easily trained. They love to learn, being able to follow over 200 commands.

Their eagerness to please makes them very popular as family pets, as guide dogs for leading the blind or deaf, also for hunting and search-and-rescue operations. Like other brainy breeds, they need space to exercise and activities to utilize their mind.
Photo credit: RD_Elsie

3. German Shepherd

The shepherd was originally bred for intelligence in Germany in 1889. It is the world’s first choice by police, the military and security firms. They can learn tasks after only a few repetitions and can regularly obey commands the first time they are given.

They are also good herding dogs and make loyal and obedient companions and family pets. These energetic dogs need plenty of exercise to use up their energy, and are best suited to homes with a big garden or with an owner willing to take them out for long romps.
Photo credit: Flickr Del

2. Poodle

Poodles have both beauty and brains and were bred to retrieve things from the water. They excel at training and have even been used to take supplies to the wounded on the battle field. They love playing and this also made them popular as circus performers.

They come in three different sizes: toy, miniature and standard and all need lots of grooming. Known for their loving nature, they make good pets. However, they are active dogs that thrive on learning and attention, and can get bored if left alone for too long.
Photo credit: Flickr Koji Ishii

1. Border Collie

The Number One slot goes to a dog prized for its intelligence. They hail from the highland borders of England and Scotland and are the world's premier sheep herder. They are hard-working and have great problem solving ability.

Highly energetic, they need lots of exercise and thrive in the country. They excel at training and make ideal home companions for those who can give them mental stimulation and plenty to do.
Photo credit: Flickr Harold Meerveld

To find out more about Rufus and Jeremy in my book for ages 7+ WOOF – A Boy's Best Friend pop over to my author's page at:
viewAuthor.at/DakotaDouglas

Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep reaching for the stars

STRANGER THAN FICTION

2/14/2016

Who Loves You Baby? Your Cat or Your Dog?

It’s Valentine’s Day, so what better subject to talk about than LOVE.

If you have a cat or dog, I bet you love them to bits. But do they love you back? And do dogs or cats love more. Believe it or not, scientists have looked into this and found that dogs win paws down.

Apparently, it all comes down to the levels of the “love hormone” oxytocin, which has an important role in human interaction. The hormone is released when people cuddle or bond socially.

Researchers tested pets for their oxytocin levels before and after they saw their owners. Ten cats and ten dogs had saliva taken, then played with their owners for 10 minutes. Afterwards, another swab was taken and the levels of the chemical were compared to see what effect seeing their owner had.

They found levels of the hormone increased by an average of 57.2 per cent in dogs but only by 12 per cent in cats.

Neuroscientist Dr Paul Zac, who examined the results, said “From this sample it’s true to say that these dogs love their owners five times more than the cats do.”

Love is in the Air

The news that our feline friends don’t love as much as our canine pals is going disappoint cat lovers the world over - but it's not all bad news.

Dr Zak said: “I was really surprised to discover that dogs produced such high levels of oxytocin.

“It was also a nice surprise to discover that cats produce any at all. At least some of the time, cats seem to bond with their owners.”

The discovery was made as part of a BBC2 documentary called "Cats v. Dogs", hosted by animal experts Chris Packham and Liz Bonnin.

Scientists already knew that dogs - like humans - release oxytocin when they are in contact with their owner. But the test has never been carried out on cats before.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep reaching for the stars

STRANGER THAN FICTION

9/23/2015

My A - Z to inspire your writing

Writer's Block; the phrase is enough to give me the shivers. Like the word shank in golf. Golfers don't mention the S word in case they get it and their game goes all to pieces. So I'll mention WB very quietly and quickly, and then cross my fingers.

Better still, how about we call it Creative Blockage?

Nah! Don't like that either; sounds like you should call a plumber or a doctor.

I know; experiencing a creative slowdown sounds better. So if you're staring at an empty page or blank computer screen because you're finding it difficult to come up with new ideas, here's my A - Z of suggestions to jump start your creative juices.

A Animals.
If you’re stuck and getting uptight, have a cuddle session with
your pet. Or if you don’t have a pet, relax by looking at some cute photos of
kittens and puppies.

B Brainstorm ideas.
The more the merrier. You might come up with a gem.

C Critique groups.
Read your work out and the suggestions you get back could
help sharpen your skills.

D Dreams.
Keep a dream journal or notebook by your bed to jot them down.

E Exercise.
Particularly outside. The quietness, combined with being out in
the fresh air with nature, can stimulate the mind.

F Films.
Edit them in your head or write a review.

G Groups of like-minded people.
Their energy could stimulate you.

H History.
People and events can spark ideas.

I Imagination.
Go with the flow and you could come up with some crackerjack ideas.

J Just start writing.
Choose a subject and write continuously. Don’t worry about spelling, punctuation or grammar. You might end up with a load of garbage with free writing but there might be a nugget hidden in there as well.

K Kids.
They have a different outlook on life that might give you fresh
ideas.

L Listen to other people’s conversations.
It's an important form of research. You can pick up information about accents, character and you may get a story idea from something you hear.

M Memories.
There may be something from your childhood that you could use as a scene/storyline.

N Newspapers.
They are packed with human interest stories.

O Objects.
Looking at a family heirloom or a bus ticket could evoke a memory or an interesting thought.

P People watching.
Study their facial expressions, mannerisms. They’ll inspire and fascinate you.

Q Quotations.
A turn of phrase can trigger an idea.

R Research.
This may give you a plot twist or inspire a character or
scene.

S Silence.
Close the door on the world. Have some "me time" with your
writing.

T Travelling.
Visiting new places, meeting new people can unlock ideas.

U Upsets.
Express your emotions. Jot down how you are feeling when your are mad or sad. It can bring realism and passion to your writing.

V Visit book shops and libraries.
Read the titles and first paragraphs, see what pops into your head.

W Write and read.
Do this as much as you can. Energy in other people’s work can rub
off.

X X Factor.
Not the TV reality show. Your x factor. Ideas that pop into your head apparently all of their own that are unique to you.

Y Yarns.
Not the thread, a tale. People love to tell stories and jokes. Listen, you never know what you might pick up.

Z Zen.
Be aware of the here and now. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not
making the progress you wish for. Have fun with your writing and the easier it will be, then inspiration could become your friend.

If you have the time, you can read a sample of ANTics HERE

* If you have written a children's book, I would love to feature you on My Guest Author's Blog to talk about where you got your inspiration from.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep reaching for the stars

STRANGER THAN FICTION

9/3/2015

10 PEOPLE INSPIRED BY DREAMS

Inspiration can strike at any moment – even when you're asleep.

Many creative breakthroughs have come in dreams bringing us great songs, books, inventions - even a way to hold a golf club.

I was lucky enough to have an idea for my children’s novel ANTics while in The Land of Nod. Here are 10 famous people inspired by their dreams:

1. The Beatles’ "Yesterday"

Legend has it that in 1964 Paul McCartney woke up with the tune for the most-covered song in music history, “Yesterday” in his head. He was convinced it was something he’d heard long ago, but after asking all his friends if they’d heard it before he realised he had dreamed it.

View image | gettyimages.com

2. Stephen King’s Misery

Wouldn't it be great to take a leaf out of Stephen King's book by turning a nightmare into a bestselling novel. King has said the idea for Misery came to him in a dream on an aeroplane. This wasn’t the only dream that inspired the prolific writer. While walking down a country road in Maine, he began to have vivid dreams about four guys in a cabin in the woods that eventually became his novel Dreamcatcher.

View image | gettyimages.com

3. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Mary Shelley, her husband Percy Bysshe, Lord Byron and a bunch of literary friends were having a writing contest. Mary had writer’s block until she went to bed and had what she described as a terrifying “waking dream” about a hideous man being brought to life by a machine. And the rest as they say is history ...

4. Christopher Nolan's Inception

Director Christopher Nolan’s own lucid dreams were the inspiration for his 2010 psychological thriller Inception, which involves a corporate spy (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who steals dreams from the minds of CEOs and business tycoons.

5. Jack Nicklaus’ Golf Swing

Sporting legend Jack Nicklaus found a new way to hold his golf club in a dream in 1964, which he credits to improving his swing. The six-time Masters champ worked out that his game was off because he was gripping the club differently in his dream than he was in real life. Maybe I'll dream how to hit the ball another 50 yards. I can only hope ...

View image | gettyimages.com

6. Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The story goes that Stevenson wanted to write about the dual life of a man, but was stuck on how to go about it. No ideas were forthcoming until a scene popped into his mind in a dream and a masterpiece was born.

7. Elias Howe inventor of the modern sewing machine

Howe (1819-1867) had an idea for a machine with a needle, which would go through a piece of cloth, but he couldn't figure out exactly how to get the needle to work. Then one night he dreamed he was taken prisoner by a group of natives. They danced around him with spears and he noticed that their spears all had holes near their tips. When he woke, he realised this was the solution he was after. Within a few hours, he had created a needle with an eye at the point.

View image | gettyimages.com

8. The Terminator

A vision of a cyborg killing machine came to director James Cameron in a nightmare while fighting a 102-degree fever. The robot played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie The Terminator proved a big hit at the box office for Cameron, who came up with the idea for Avatar while sleeping as well. Get some more sleep James - we want more brilliant films.

View image | gettyimages.com

9. DNA

DNA’s shape and structure eluded scientists until 1953, when Dr. James Watson had a dream that made him consider the double helix. According to his alma mater, Indiana University, the dream was of two intertwined serpents with heads at opposite ends, though other accounts say the dream was of a double-sided staircase.

10. Edgar Allan Poe's Poetry

Throughout his life, Edgar Allan Poe suffered from nightmares and sometimes they inspired his poems and short stories. He described dreams as “a powerful form of consciousness” and wrote several poems about the phenomenon of dreaming.

You can read a sample of ANTics HERE

Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep reaching for the stars

STRANGER THAN FICTION

5/2/2015

GOLF: My First Hole-in-1

Forrest Gump said: “Life is like box of chocolates”. To me, it’s a rollercoaster ride with ups and downs, highs and lows representing success and failure, achievement and disappointment. I’d like to share a recent achievement of mine.

My partner has had an incredible 25 hole-in-ones. I can never dream of beating that record, though I have been very close many times. On April 26, I achieved the first of hopefully many.

Uphill challenge

Recently, the 9th on my golf course in the North East of England has become a bogey hole for both men and women golfers. It's an uphill shot across a slope to a green with a narrow entrance that is skirted on the left by two bunkers and with a bunker at the bottom of the hill on the right. At the moment, if you miss the green and land on the front anywhere near the right, the ball will roll between 25-40 yards down the hill or go in the right bunker, giving you a 15 yard shot to the green straight up hill. The prevailing wind generally blows from the left, so you need to aim slightly left from the tee. If you land in front of the green, you could get a bad bounce into a left hand bunker. Ideally, you need to choose the right club and hit the green from the get go. That's what I did on April 26.

On Par

As soon as I hit the shot and saw the ball hit the green, I thought, "with any luck that will go in" - and it did. But because it is an elevated green, I didn't see it go in. Three players on the elevated 10th tee above the 9th green did, however. They ran onto the green, waving their arms, woo hooing and shouting that it had gone in. They later told me that it hit the front of the green, ran straight up to the hole and teetered on the edge for a couple of seconds, and then went in. I think they were more excited than I was.

It's a great feeling, giving you a sense of achievement and I wish more golfers could do the same.

Lady Luck

My partner always tells me that you have to hit a good shot and have a little bit of luck. I guess I am not as lucky as he is – but my luck was in that day. In the words of the great Arnold Palmer when he was congratulated on making a lucky shot: "It's a funny thing, the more I practice the luckier I get." So if I want more holes-in-ones, I will have to practice more.

For those folk who think, “Golf is a good walk spoiled” (a quote attributed to Mark Twain), I suggest they give it try. I've played a lot of different ball games over the years and I agree with Mr. Palmer, who also said, "Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening - and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented."

Personal achievement

It is a particularly satisfying achievement for me personally because a few years ago I was diagnosed with Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) a condition that causes pains to my hands, wrists and arms and is caused through repetitive actions such as shorthand and typing. Clutching a pen in my hand for hours on end taking down speeches, political debates, interviews and court summations for years was the culprit. The condition was very painful and wrecked my golf. For years, I could hardly hit a ball and flirted with the idea of giving it up. But with encouragement from family and friends, I didn’t. Since retiring as a print journalist, my condition has eased a bit and I am playing better. Long may it last!

If you’d like to share an achievement of yours (hole-in-1 or otherwise), please get in touch. It might be learning a new skill, conquering a fear, publishing a book, winning an award or holding your baby in your arms for the first time. Whatever it is, I’d love to hear about it.

Click HERE to read some other golf quotes that you may enjoy.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep reaching for the stars

STRANGER THAN FICTION

1/20/2014

BRITISH v AMERICAN PHRASES, WORDS AND SPELLINGS

The other day, I told a golfing partner that I was a bit chilly and was going to put on my jumper.

She's American and looked at me puzzled. ‘What’s a jumper?" she asked.

"This," I said, pulling a jumper out of my golf bag.

"Oh, you mean a sweater."

In Britain, we say jumper. In America, it’s called a sweater.

This is one example of a wide variation in phrases, words and spelling between the two English-speaking cultures.

In the preface of my children’s books, I say that I use UK English spelling throughout to explain any confusion.

Here’s some more of the cultural differences

The British go up and down in a "lift"; Americans use the "elevator"

The British use a "mobile phone"; Americans use a "cell phone"

The British eat "aubergines"; Americans say "egg-plant"

The British use a "baking tray"; Americans use a "cookie sheet"

The British call for the "bill" (in a restaurant); Americans call for the "check"

The British eat "biscuits"; Americans eat "cookies"

British cars have "bonnets"; American cars have "hoods"

British trousers are kept up with "braces"; American trousers have "suspenders"

British cars are parked in car parks; American cars are put in parking lots

The British eat "candyfloss", American’s eat "cotton candy"

British cars have a "boot"; American cars have a "trunk"

British kids use "catapults", American kids use "slingshots"

British babies sleep in "cots", American babies sleep in "cribs"

The British eat "crisps"; Americans eat "potato chips"

The British use "drawing pins", Americans use "thumbtacks"

British babies suck on a "dummy", American babies use a "pacifier"

The British walk on a pavement, Americans use a sidewalk

The British wear "polonecks"; Americans wear "turtlenecks"

British cars guzzle "petrol"; you put "gasoline" or "gas" in American cars

The British have a "fringe" (hair), Americans have bangs

SPELLING DIFFERENCES

The British spelling is on the left, the American spelling on the right:

Labour/labor

Centre/center

Grey/gray

Travelled/traveled

Cancelled/canceled

The list is endless...

DIFFERENT PRONUNCIATION

Aluminium (al-you-min-ee-um) v the American aluminum (a-loom-in-um)

Vitamin. In Britain, it’s pronounced as vit-a-min, vit rhyming with wit. Americans pronounce it vite-a-min, vite rhyming with bite.

Schedule in Britain is pronounced shed-ual. In American, it is sked-ual.

Herb. In Britain the word is pronounced with the h. American’s drop the h and it becomes erb

YOU SAY EETHER AND I SAY EYETHER

I’m a sucker for old musicals and this reminds me of the lyrics from "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 film ‘Shall We Dance’ starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers:

You say eether and I say eyether,
You say neether and I say nyther;
Eether, eyether, neether, nyther,
Let's call the whole thing off!
You like potato and I like potahto,
You like tomato and I like tomahto;
Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto!
Let's call the whole thing off!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep reaching for the stars

STRANGER THAN FICTION

12/13/2013

MEMORIES: THE WAY WE WERE

Here's another bunch of interesting memories from folk I meet:

EASY LISTENING

Jack was in the US Army in Germany in 1955.
"There's been a stir about us monitoring other countries. That's nothing new. In 1955, we were monitoring everyone and everyone else was monitoring us. And they’ve been doing it for over 50 years.

"We had our reunion recently. Our caps say ‘In God We Trust’ and on the other side it says, ‘But We Monitor Everyone Else’.

SHARP SHOOTING

Liz, from Sunniside, Gateshead, was a bit of a sharp shooter growing up in Sunniside, Gateshead, in the 1950s. But she used berries instead of bullets.

"I had a pea shooter made from a hollow tube plant," she said. "A group of us used to go to vicarage and ‘shoot’ the vicar’s wife as she sat on a deckchair on the lawn smoking.

"We used berries and would pop up over the wall and blow at her. She was a real busy body. We like to wear shorts and she would tell us off for showing our legs. She said we were naughty girls."

DAD'S ARMY

Beverly found out about her father’s World War Two exploits shortly before his death.

"I came to visit my father in hospital in Florida in April," she said. "He was 93 and not doing well. He told me he had lots of stories to tell and did I want to hear them. He told me he was in something called the Red Ball Express. I’d
never heard of it.

"He was in the 3rd Army in convoys taking gas to the front lines loaded in trucks. The Germans tried to kill him
several times on the way because they wanted the gas.

"It was very dangerous and he was very glad when it ended. After that he drove ambulances, going up and down the lines picking up the wounded. He was based in England for a time and he had my mother’s name Lucy on the bumper of the ambulance."

THE DOGS OF WAR

Geoffrey was in the British Army based in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1960. His camp was in the middle of a desert and one of his duties was to guard the perimeter.

"We were given pickaxe handles as a weapon," he said. "It was hardly a weapon but it was protection against packs of wild dogs that circled the camp. Most nights we never had to use them but it was unnerving to hear the dogs
howling."

COMIC BOOK KID

Reginald grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He was born in 1939 and lived with his grandfather.

"I learned the read by reading comics to my grandfather," he recalls. "When he first asked me to read them, I couldn’t read, so I would look at the pictures and make up stories. I would say this guy said this and the other guy said this.
He would laugh so I must have been pretty good.

"I learned arithmetic by doing my grandfather’s betting slips.

"In those days, I would sit in the dark in my bedroom listening to the Lone Ranger on the radio. The Lone Radio Show started in Detroit. I’ve listened to some of those old radio shows since and they are pretty corny but when I was a kid, I thought they were great."

HURRICANE CAMILLE

Pat lived through one of the most unpleasant hurricanes to hit the US – Hurricane Camille in 1969.

She said: "I was attending Tulane University New Orleans Graduate School, living in a house near the airport when the hurricane hit. The trouble with New Orleans is that it sits below sea level and when a hurricane hits, it empties
the Mississippi River into the city and empties Lake Pontratrain into New Orleans.

"The winds were 200 miles per hour. It was one of the most intense storms to hit the USA. Katrina was the biggest storm but not nearly as intense.

"We were told to put wood at the windows and fill the bath tub with water for drinking. It was pretty scary. It didn’t hit us but hit 50 miles away

"The next day, we decided to go and help people. They had found more bodies than people reported missing because bodies from flooded graves were floating about all over. They found a relatively large ship three quarters of a mile inland in a farmer’s field. The place was also infested with snakes and alligators."

WINDOW ON THE WORLD

Les grew up in Middlebro, Manitoba, Canada, in the 1940s. "It was a little country town," he said. "My dad worked for Marvin Windows, based in Minnesota, just over the border. He worked in the woods, scaling the wood, checking out the quality of the wood.

"I went to the local school. It was a two-room school, like something from Little House on the Prairie. One room was for grades one through four and the other was grades five to nine.

"I used to love to skate on the canal that ran beside the highway. It was frozen in winter and we would skate for miles. It was a lot of fun. I wore skates that were four times too big for me because four of us had to share the same pair of skates."

Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep reaching for the stars

STRANGER THAN FICTION

11/24/2013

FINDING INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WRITING

I walk for exercise and inspiration. Exercise because it’s good for me and inspiration because I write children’s books.

As I put one foot in front of the other and breathe deeply, my mind gradually clears of all the junk that’s swimming around in there, opening my mind to new ideas. That could be a subject for my next blog, a scene, a plot twist, or an idea for my next story.

Inspiration can strike anywhere and at any time. And I’m very grateful for that. That’s why I always carry paper and pencil or a tape recorder with me.

It could be in a supermarket, on the golf course, while sitting at my computer, while watching TV, while reading a newspaper or on a walk.

Even in a dream. The storyline for my first children’s story, ANTics came to me in a dream after watching a group of ants carry a potato crisp back to their nest.

When I was a kid, we spent the school summer holidays in our caravan by the sea. liked to sit on the rocks gazing out at the water. I was an avid reader. I read all sorts of fiction, but wasn’t one for poetry. Yet more often than not, while sitting there communing with nature, listing to the waves crashing on the rocks and watching the seagulls wheel above my head, I would write poetry. I was inspired by my surroundings.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Few writers can afford to wait for inspiration to strike. Serious writers knuckle down to the business of writing, just as they would if they had a 9-to-5 job.

Stephen King hit the nail on the head when he said: "Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work."

Leonard Bernstein said: "Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time."

Peter De Vries sums it up: "I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at nine o’clock every morning."

You don’t have to wait for inspiration. But when it comes, inspiration can fuel your urge to write, particularly if you’re muse is taking a catnap.

If you have the time, you can read a sample of ANTics HERE

* If you are a children's author, I would love to hear where you got the
inspiration from. Share your story and I’ll feature it in a My Guest Author's Blog.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep reaching for the stars

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